This, they say, is evident in the cancellation of some road projects, challenges with cocoa mass spraying exercise, and replacement of free fertilizers with subsidized ones.

“Our dear farmers, it is sad to note that no provision was made for cocoa roads in the COCOBOD budget for 2017/18. This means that the cocoa roads which are deteriorating faster than anticipated due to the neglect of the NPP government, is going to get worse, making users (mostly farmers) wretchedly despondent and low-spirited to continue to labour for our dear nation,” said the Minority Spokesperson on Agric, Eric Opoku.

[contextly_sidebar id=”X5MQZoID6gg4VpRo5RcgKjPSjlkgXEvX”]Speaking at a press conference on happenings in the cocoa sector at Bodi in the Western Region on Monday, Mr. Opoku also accused the NPP government of sidelining perceived sympathizers of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the distribution of fertilizers, claiming that farmers are plunged into difficulties.

“The programme is over politicized and perceived NDC sympathizers are left out in the distribution of chemicals.”

He further challenged government to come clean on how much government has realized so far in the cocoa stabilization fund.

“You may recall that in the last press conference, we made specific demands in respect of the Cocoa Stabilization Fund established in 2014 by the Mahama government. Even though attempts were made to respond to the issues raised, specific questions were not addressed. We are still interested in knowing how much is accumulated in the Cocoa Stabilization Fund and its impact on cocoa farmers in this critical period.”

On the subsidized fertilizer, Eric Opoku described it as broad day light robbery.

“On 21st June 2017, the Minority in Parliament held a press conference and drew the attention of the NPP Government to the fact that, the Ghanaian Cocoa farmer had indirectly paid for the fertilizers procured for the 2016/17 season, and therefore selling same to them amounts to broad day light robbery. We further explained that in Ghana, cocoa farmers are paid in kind and in cash, and by replacing the free fertilizer with a subsidized system, the NPP would inflict untold hardships on the cocoa farmer.”

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By: Godwin A. Allotey & Duke M. Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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According to him, the decision by the COCOBOD boss will cost Ghana more money.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ub3KtWaQqYp9ciUKq0HWYg7KFhVTpPh5″]Speaking on Eyewitness News on Monday, Mr. Agbodza said most of the roads were developing into very terrible state due to the decision to halt all construction works on them.

“The Chief Executive of COCOBOD has unilaterally stopped all cocoa roads and these roads are getting deteriorated and I can bet you, we will pay more for all those roads because some of these roads have been left for 7 months and they have deteriorated, and when they come back to the road they would have to fix that before they go on, meaning we will pay more…. Perhaps the Chief Executive of COCOBOD would have to be cited one day for willfully causing financial loss to the state,” he said.

The Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo in July 2017 announced the decision to halt construction when the Board and management of the company paid a courtesy call on the Okyehene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin.

He said the decision was to allow the company conduct a full audit into all road contracts to ensure that it does not strain its finances. He noted that the previous government had entered into various road contracts of values far above the company’s financial capacity.

“We are just suspending the project to make way for a comprehensive audit which will give us a clearer picture because we need to protect the public purse especially money coming from the sweat of modest cocoa farmers,” he said.

The Cocoa Roads Project aims at improving road networks in cocoa communities with the view to ensuring access to remote cocoa areas as well as creating a congenial environment to promote the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.

Among other things, it is to solve the challenges associated with carting cocoa beans from the farm gates to buying centers and also to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to him, the roads have been captured under the cocoa roads programme to fast track its completion.

He stated that government has opened the tendering process to select a contractor for the road.

The President gave the assurance at Fanteakwa during his campaign tour of the region.

“In the Eastern Region there are a lot of roads we are constructing. When we complete some part then we proceed to another part. Three of your roads have been put on the cocoa roads programme. We realized that roads in the Eastern, Central and Brong Ahafo regions were in deplorable states, thought they are the main places we get a lot of cocoa from. So we decided that anytime we go for the cocoa money abroad, we would put some aside to construct roads in cocoa growing regions. It was an initiative by the NDC. So the phase one started in 2015, phase two in 2016 and we are about commencing phase three.”

The president told the people that in the third phase, “three of your roads have been captured” and listed them as “the road from Osiam to Begro, Obohun to Dedeso and the one from Ebuosu to Asesewa.”

“The good news about the cocoa road programme is that it is not a government of Ghana budget, it is an amount set aside from proceeds from sale of cocoa so the contractors are paid on time hence ensures the timely completion of the roads.  I am hoping that by the next time I come around, the road would have been completed for you,” Mahama added.

29 communities to be connected to national grid

He also added that some towns in Fanteakwa have been earmarked to be connected to the national power grid.

From 2012, we have tried as much as possible to share the national cake equitably. If you come to Fanteakwa, concerning school and water projects, everyone can attest that we have done so well. Like my brother Ofosu Ampofo said, anything you see Fanteakwa Begoro developing, then that would have been during the reign of the NDC. I know that there are more that needs to be done that is why I’m urging you that when you vote on December 7, vote for the NDC so that our we can continue with our good works.

“…On electrification, we have earmarked 29 communities under the Honun electrification project and sent to Parliament. The agreement has been sent back to China for it to be signed for the project to commence.”

The president listed some of the beneficiary communities as Besibom, Otuatere, Owusokrom, Addokrom, Miaso, Asarekwa, Fayease, among others.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Mahama promises to construct more roads in Eastern Region appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The United States clinched an extraordinary, heart-stopping, last-ditch triumph over Ghana on Monday to give its World Cup campaign a magnificent start.

John Brooks was the unlikely hero with an 86th-minute header that proved to be the winning goal in a contest where the U.S. was forced to defend for long periods under sustained pressure from the Ghanians.

It was thrilling and emotional and may have taken a physical toll on the players, but the Americans now sit with a genuine chance of progressing from Group G, the most difficult of all the World Cup pools.

Brooks, a towering 21-year-old defender who was only on the field because of an injury to Matt Besler, got his head to a perfect Graham Zusi corner to secure victory just when the U.S. was starting to lose hope.

Clint Dempsey had given the U.S. a dream start firing in the opening goal after just 31 seconds, the fifth fastest goal in tournament history, courtesy of a brilliant twisting run through the Ghana defense.

But the African side, which knocked the U.S. out of the last two World Cups, bounced back strongly and had countless chances to equalize. Ghana eventually did so with eight minutes left when Andre Ayew ran onto a backheel from Asamoah Gyan and flicked the ball into the net.

At that stage, with Jurgen Klinsmann’s side looking almost totally spent, a heartbreaking defeat was entirely possible. But somehow from somewhere, and in a fashion nearly as dramatic as Landon Donovan’s strike against Algeria at the 2010 World Cup, the team pulled out three priceless points.

Zusi was a replacement himself and kept his nerve when the team won a late corner, curling it directly onto the head of Brooks, who Ghana somehow forgot to mark.

Things do not get any easier, but the Americans can now see real light ahead. Up next is Portugal on Sunday in Manaus, where the U.S. will likely be without injured forward Jozy Altidore. However, they now have a three-point lead on the Portuguese, who were thrashed 4-0 by Germany, and have a shot at reaching the last 16.
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Follow @garyalsmith

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