Seidu Agongo is said to have been a beneficiary of the supposed fraudulent fertilizer contract worth over GH¢43 million.

Dr. Stephen Opuni and Agongo, alongside Agricult limited’s representatives, have pleaded not guilty to all 27 charges brought against them.

[contextly_sidebar id=”xEFsVSM4pq0LaHRPnIkSDPeyrQT8kwjG”]But the Attorney General’s department is bent on ensuring that the country’s laws deal with the two if they are found culpable by the court.

The case was heard for the first time today, [Monday], March 26, 2018 in an Accra High Court.

Prior to the hearing, top officials of the opposition National Democratic Congress throng the court to support to Dr. Opuni who was appointed under the NDC government.

Dr. Opuni and Agongo were subsequently granted self-cognizance bail to the tune of Ghc300,000 each, with the case adjourned to April 11, 2018.

Facts of the case

While delivering the facts of the case today [Monday], the prosecution told the court that Dr. Opuni misled the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) into awarding a fertilizer contract to Seidu Agongo and his company, Agricult Ghana Limited.

The prosecution further accused Dr. Opuni of also truncating the time period of testing of the fertilizer brought into the country by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG).

The prosecution said Agongo acting on behalf of Agricult submitted to the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), fertilizer for testing.

According to the prosecution, the testing was supposed to be in two phases – to be applied to seedlings and applied to matured plants for at least two planting seasons before it could be certified for use in Ghana.

But the prosecution said the testing was done for only phase one after which a report recommending its use was given without second phase testing.

The prosecution said the investigations revealed that the former COCOBOD CEO, Dr. Stephen Opuni wrote to CRIG asking that the testing period should be shortened, and also wrote to Seidu Agongo that his fertilizer had been certified for use on cocoa after which a certificate was issued by CRIG.

The prosecution also said despite not applying for renewal of certificate for 2015 and 2016 as required, Agricult upon the instance of Dr. Stephen Opuni had the license renewed without any further testing.

Dr. Opuni, the prosecution said applied to the Public Procurement Authority for approval for Agricult Ghana Limited to be single-sourced to procure 700,000 litres of the fertilizer although conditions for single sourcing had not been satisfied.

According to the prosecution, the letter directing the PPA to single source the project quoted an amount of $19,250,000.

The nature of the product was captured as liquid despite it being powdery form.

The prosecution further told the court that as at the time of writing to PPA, Agricult had not written to COCOBOD stating any price as required by law.

The Public Procurement Authority according to the prosecution, subsequently wrote to the COCOBOD boss requesting for value for money analysis.

Dr. Opuni, according to the prosecution, did not provide this, but rather misrepresented to PPA that in compliance with advice from PPA Board in 2008, Agricult Ghana Limited had been pre-qualified for the supply of the fertilizer although Dr. Opuni knew this was not true.

On that basis, the PPA board approved COCOBOD’s request for single-sourcing of 700,000 litres of the fertilizer.

Dr. Opuni, in 2014, according to the facts of the case, once again wrote to PPA requesting approval to hand Agricult contract to supply liquid form of fertilizer through sole-sourcing even though conditions had not been met, the AG said.

The AG said the PPA approved the request, adding that Dr. Opuni then put in another request which was also approved.

In November 2015, the PPA approved the application for single-source procurement.

The prosecution said three separate agreements were signed and executed by Seidu Agongo’s Agricult Ghana Limited.

The prosecution said investigations had revealed that the contracts were executed when the company did not have a valid certificate to supply the fertilizer.

Whereas the material safety data sheet accompanying the fertilizer that was originally submitted to CRIG for testing described the substance as powdery, Dr. Opuni in requesting quotations for supply and delivery under the three contracts referred to the fertilizer as liquid and quoted in litres, the AG said

The prosecution continued that when the products arrived in Ghana, COCOBOD was required to notify CRIG for testing to ensure it corresponded with what was tested by CRIG. No such testing was carried out.

In 2017, COCOBOD carried out audit into testing of fertilizers after which it referred the matter for criminal investigations. The investigations the AG said, established that the product supplied by Agricult Ghana Ltd was different from the sample submitted to CRIG for testing.

Further tests the prosecution said, revealed variously that the fertilizer supplied had been adulterated and did not meet the specified standard, and that the product could not be used as nutrient on cocoa.

Furthermore, the test indicated that the fertilizer could be harmful to humans and animals as well hazardous to water.

Even though COCOBOD had spent a sum of $55million on the fertilizer, COCOBOD’s records shows there was no significant increase in the cocoa yield during the period, the Ag stated.

The prosecution further said investigations established that Seidu Agongo deposited an amount of 25,000 cedis into the account of Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni to influence the award of contracts.

It has been established that between 2014 and 2016, contrary to law, Seidu Agongo and Agricult manufactured fertilizer in commercial quantities when it had not been registered by the Ministry for food and Agriculture.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Genesis of Opuni’s woes: The ‘facts’ of the case appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The representatives of Agricult Limited, the company owned by Seidu Agongo, also pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

The three defendants made the plea during their first court appearance today [Monday].

[contextly_sidebar id=”d5gpa3IxAu95CykoHpdioQTCzS4dDez8″]Former COCOBOD boss, Dr. Opuni; CEO of Zeera Group of Companies, Seidu Agongo and Agricult Ghana, which also belongs to Mr. Agongo are cumulatively facing some 27 charges, including causing financial loss to the state, abetment of crime and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Seidu Agongo is accused of being a beneficiary of the supposed fraudulent fertilizer contract worth over GH¢43 million.

The state’s argument

The state argued that Dr. Opuni misled the Public Procurement Authority to approve single-source contracts for Agongo and Agricult to provide fertilizers at a different cost.

The Attorney General (AG), Gloria Akuffo, also said Seidu Agongo, acting on behalf of Agricult, submitted fertilizer to the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) for testing.

The testing was supposed to be in two phases; to be applied to seedlings and then to matured plants for at least two planting seasons.

AG said the testing was carried out for only first phase, after which a  report recommending its use was given without the second phase of testing.

She added that investigations revealed that former COCOBOD CEO, Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni wrote to CRIG asking them to shorten the testing period.

Dr. Opuni subsequently wrote to Seidu Agongo, informing him that his fertilizer had been certified for use on cocoa plantations, after which a certificate was issued by CRIG.

Agricult’s contract was renewed in 2015 and 2016 on the instance of Dr. Stephen Opuni without any further testing, despite not applying for a renewal of their certificates.

Dr. Opuni then applied to the Pubic Procurement Authority (PPA) for approval for Agricult Ghana Limited to be contracted to procure 700,000 litres of the fertilizer, although the conditions for single-sourcing had not been satisfied. In that letter, Dr. Opuni stated the price as $19,250,000.

The nature of the product was captured as liquid despite it being powdery in form. The AG further told the court that at the time of writing to the PPA, Agricult had not written to COCOBOD stating the price as is required by law.

The Public Procurement Authority then wrote to the COCOBOD boss requesting for a value-for-money analysis.

Dr. Opuni, Ms Akuffo said, did not provide this but rather told PPA that, in compliance with advice from PPA Board in 2008, Agricult Ghana Limited had been pre-qualified for the supply of the fertilizer, a statement he knew was untrue.

On that basis, the PPA Board approved COCOBOD’s request for single-sourcing of 700,000 litres of the fertilizer.

Support from NDC

Some key National Democratic Congress (NDC) executives and officials from the erstwhile Mahama administration where at the court in support of Dr. Opuni.

Persons from within the NDC as well as Dr. Opuni’s family have described this prosecution as a witch-hunt.

The National Organizer of the NDC, Kofi Adams described the prosecution of the former COCOBOD boss as an injustice.

He said the government is only making frantic efforts to cause public disaffection towards the previous NDC administration by smearing former state officials with allegations of corruption and initiating legal action against them for same.

–

By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Opuni, Seidu Agongo plead not guilty to all charges appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Dr. Opuni together with and one Seidu Agongo, CEO of Zeera Group of Companies and Agricult Ghana Limited, beneficiaries of a supposed fraudulent fertilizer supply contract worth GHc43,120,000, have been dragged to court by the Attorney General and charged with 27 counts of causing financial loss to the state.

The family members, however, say the said contracts were signed on July 25, 2013, long before Dr. Opuni was appointed to head the institution.

[contextly_sidebar id=”GNLs1W59WzB9tWtofylOYZQXeTTb1i1y”]Spokesperson for the family, John Adu Jack at a news conference, insisted that Opuni is only a victim of political persecution by the government.

“We are told that Dr. Opuni has colluded with Agricult Gh. Ltd. and one Mr. Agongo to defraud the State of huge sums of money through the supply of Lithovit fertilizer. It is inferred that Dr. Opuni had a personal interest in this transaction as though he brought the company from somewhere to apply for the contract. However, available documents suggest that the said application began way back 25th July, 2013, whilst Dr. Opuni was appointed to COCOBOD on 30th November 2013. Where lies the collusion then?”

“Again, a man we are told was taking about GHC75,000 a month as salary is said to have to take a bribe of GHC25,000 for awarding a contract worth millions of cedis. How possible?”

He also said the allegations being made with regards to the Lithovit Fertilizer contract are “mind-boggling.”

“We are being told that the said fertilizer is a poisonous chemical that can destroy cocoa trees. However, after applying the said fertilizer from 2014 and 2015 crop season, there was a yield of 966,444 metric tons of cocoa in 2016/2017 crop season, being the highest since 2010. Ladies and gentlemen of the press, I believe the farmers here are the best judges about the Lithovit liquid fertilizer which is even on sale on the markets. Why this fertilizer is not withdrawn from the market but still allowed to continue killing the rest of our cocoa trees as has been alleged, leaves much to be desired…We believe that they are only trying to give the dog a bad name in order to hang it,” he added.

Speaking in a separate Citi News interview, John Adu noted that, “indeed, it isn’t that Opuni held somebody’s hand somewhere and brought the persons in, he came to meet the contract in progress; and because he came to meet it, because it is governance he had to continue with it” he explained.

Opuni facing ‘highest order of political persecution’

Some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) including former MP, George Loh and National Organiser of the NDC, Kofi Adams have all insisted that government is persecuting Opuni.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Branch of the opposition NDC, had lambasted government  for what it calls the “persecution of Dr. Stephen Opuni.”

Dr. Opuni is expected to make his first court appearance on Friday, March 23.

–

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

The post Opuni’s family jumps to his defence; says he did no wrong appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“This action we consider to be political persecution of the highest order,” a statement from the branch said.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4rzJUKfM1mt1rc2DcVdCQ4aXxL6xmWyl”]The Brong Ahafo NDC joins the Ashanti branch of the NDC, and the party’s National Organizer, Kofi Adams, who have described the trial as a witch-hunt.

The Attorney General has filed 27 counts including causing financial loss to the state against Dr. Opuni and one Seidu Agongo, CEO of Zeera Group of Companies and Agricult Ghana Limited, beneficiaries of a supposed fraudulent fertilizer supply contract worth GHc43,120,000.

In the view of the Brong Ahafo NDC, the government has clearly “initiated some selective political persecution against his [Opuni’s ] person.”

In a statement signed by the Regional Secretary of the party, Dennis Yeboah Twumasi, the party said the government was engaged in “political propaganda, vilification, open hatred and outright persecution.”

“His [Opuni’s] prosecution only seeks to prevent and reduce his standing in politics based on very spurious allegations of procurement and administrative infractions. This has been preceded by a flurry of media headlines, subjecting him to an open-air political trial and a trial in the court of NPP public opinion supported with earlier pressure from some leading Members of New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Government, to commence prosecution of former NDC Government appointees including Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni for alleged acts of corruption for over a year now.”

The NDC branch, however said it remains confident that Dr. Opuni will be exonerated if he goes through a fair trial.

“We Members of the Brong Ahafo Regional Branch of the NDC strongly believe that Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni will be exonerated and acquitted by the court if only the trial follows due process and is conducted by a court of competent jurisdiction in an open and transparent manner.”

Find below the full statement

PERSECUTION OF Dr. STEPHEN OPUNI BASED ON POLITICAL OPINION

It was widely reported in the media towards the close of last week about the intention of the NPP Government to prosecute Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni the immediate past Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). This action we consider to be political persecution of the highest order.

In this regard, we Members of the Brong Ahafo NDC express our strong support for the former hard-working Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni. We clearly see that the Government has initiated some selective political persecution against his person. His prosecution only seeks to prevent and reduce his standing in politics based on very spurious allegations of procurement and administrative infractions. This has been preceded by a flurry of media headlines, subjecting him to an open-air political trial and a trial in the court of NPP public opinion supported with earlier pressure from some leading Members of New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Government to commence prosecution of Former NDC Government Appointees including Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni for alleged acts of corruption for over a year now.

Interestingly, the flood of responses from Government Spokespersons and its party Communicators on Dr. Opuni’s prosecution has given rise for people to question the role that the NPP’s political persecution plays in an open and democratic society. We believe strongly that it is the responsibility of the State to investigate and fight corruption in the public interest. That is fair.

What this means is that, Government Communicators can only serve the interests of the citizenry by putting out truthful and relevant information when it comes to protecting the public purse. But what the NPP is doing is different. They are engaged in political propaganda, vilification, open hatred and outright persecution.

We entreat the general Public and Members of the NDC not to lend credence to NPP’s political agenda. How come that charges leveled against an accused person are leaked to the media even before they are filed in court? It is simply a well-planned, rehearsed and choreographed game in which they have targeted some influential former Appointees of the NDC Government, including Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni for humiliation and harassment. We consider this to be most unfair as he is being condemned even before the trial.

We Members of the Brong Ahafo Regional Branch of the NDC strongly believe that Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni will be exonerated and acquitted by the court if only the trial follows due process and is conducted by a court of competent jurisdiction in an open and transparent manner. We have confidence in our judiciary, and given the opportunity, they will deliver a fair and satisfactory judgment based on the facts and evidence adduced before them.
In the meantime, we declare our unconditional support for Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni as he is presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the court.

Signed

Dennis Yeboah Twumasi
Regional Secretary, B/A

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Opuni facing ‘highest order of political persecution’ – B/A NDC appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

COOBOD said the decision was taken because among other things, it found out that the contract did not go through due process.

Seidu Agongo, together with Dr. Stephen Opuni, the immediate past CEO of COCOBOD, were on Wednesday charged by the Attorney General for causing financial loss to the state to a tune of over GHc200 million.

[contextly_sidebar id=”3iNQublx90s3qJkK0ER0L0fhZA1FD0H9″]Speaking to Citi News, the Manager in Charge of the COCOBOD CEO’s office, Fiifi Boafo, said although some of the contracts entered into with other companies by the previous government were honoured, several others too were abrogated.

“It’s an input supply contract that was awarded to the company and the new management reviewed it. There were some problems with those contracts; it is not just limited to this particular one that is barely before court; there are other contracts that had been awarded by the previous administration which have also been abrogated.”

He said the current administration abrogated such contracts because “they were of view that there were some problems leading to the award so management decided to abrogate some of those contracts.”

Fiifi Boafo also noted that, not all the contracts were found to be problematic, adding that those found to be faultless “were honoured” by his boss.

Opuni, Agongo and Agricult sued

The contract at the centre of the lawsuit spanned the period 2013 to 2016.  The defendants are expected to make their first appearance in court on 20th March, 2018, where they will be answering twenty seven charges in all, including abetment of crime, defrauding by false pretence and willfully causing financial loss to the state, among others.

Opuni’s prosecution a case of ‘injustice’ – Kofi Adams

Meanwhile, the National Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams, has described the prosecution of Dr. Opuni’ as a case of “selective injustice.”

According to him, the government is only making frantic efforts to cause public disaffection towards the previous administration.

“What has government done about numerous corruption and acts of corruption reported sometimes by its own members against itself since January 2017, meanwhile they will be spending resources, wasting everybody’s time looking for non-existing evidence in an attempt to paint the previous administration bad. We can’t sit aloof and say that they are prosecuting, when it is clear that they are engaging in selective injustice,” he said in a Citi News interview.

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

The post Zeera boss’ fertilizer deal already terminated – COCOBOD appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the company, the reports are totally false.

GREL in a statement also dispelled reports that it has destroyed some cocoa farms in those regions to make way for rubber plantations.

[contextly_sidebar id=”4GVoaIHte70xpLOSS60ZTu6LOoo19Pkf”]“Our attention has been drawn to various articles and documentaries about the alleged destruction of cocoa farms by Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) to develop rubber plantations in the Eastern and Western Regions of the Republic of Ghana. Management is minded to respond to these articles and documentaries largely due to the palpable falsehoods, blatant lies and factual inaccuracies contained in these publications with the sole aim of bringing the name of Ghana Rubber Estates Limited into disrepute,” a statement from the company said.

GREL has been lambasted by some sector institutions including COCOBOD for allegedly destroying cocoa plantations in the country.

Some cocoa farmers in the Eastern Region have also threatened to embark on a demonstration to register their displeasure over the alleged destruction of a number of cocoa farms to pave way for the cultivation of rubber.

But GREL in the statement debunked the claims and said it has duly paid and compensated land owners who leased their lands to them for the rubber project.

“…we would like to state emphatically that at no point in time has the company forcibly ejected the tenant farmers from the field. At no point in time did GREL engage Police to intimidate the farmers into accepting the cheques for compensation.”

Below is the full statement from GREL:

THE FACTS ABOUT NATURAL RUBBER DEVELOPMENT/EXPANSION PROJECT BY GHANA RUBBER ESTATES LIMITED (GREL)

Our attention has been drawn to various articles and documentaries about the alleged destruction of cocoa farms by Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) to develop rubber plantations in the Eastern and Western Regions of the Republic of Ghana.

Management is minded to respond to these articles and documentaries largely due to the palpable falsehoods, blatant lies and factual inaccuracies contained in these publications with the sole aim of bringing the name of Ghana Rubber Estates Limited into disrepute.

The following are the facts as response to these articles and television documentaries:

GREL is a natural rubber producer and has a concession size of 21,747 hectares (ha) of which 16,017ha is State Land and the remaining portion of 5,730ha being Stool/Family Lands. The distribution of the concession per Region is as follows:

Western Region = 19,849ha (State Land- 16,017ha & Stool/Family Land – 4,123ha).

Central Region = 809ha (Stool/Family Lands)

Eastern Region = 800ha (Stool Lands)

GREL has also helped/assisted 9,500 individuals to develop 42,600ha of rubber outgrower farms in Western, Central, Ashanti and Eastern Regions of the Republic Of Ghana with the Eastern Region having only developed 50ha out of the 42,600ha. The company currently operates a 10-ton per hour rubber processing factory located at Apimenim in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region.

EASTERN REGION

In 2012, Management of GREL received an invitation from the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council (AATC) to develop Rubber and Oil Palm Plantations in the Traditional area with the aim of boosting the local economy and creating jobs. After two years of deliberations and stakeholder engagements with the various divisions under AATC an MOU was signed between GREL and AATC on 3^rd July, 2014 granting GREL the permission to lease lands under the Traditional Area for rubber plantations. GREL then proceeded to sign an MOU with Asamankese Stool on 15^th August, 2014 for the lease of lands in Asikasu, Mepom, Fantwuma and Okurase all under the Asamankese Stool.

GREL continued to engage the tenant farmers in Asikasu, Breman and Okurase who would be affected by the project and the traditional authorities in these areas until an agreement was reached with all parties for enumeration of crops to be affected and payment of compensations. On 22^nd June, 2015 an agreement was signed between GREL and Asamankese Stool for the lease of 600ha (1500Acres) and 200ha (500acres) of land respectively at Asikasu and Okurase all under the Asamankese Stool of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council. A lease agreement was subsequently signed leasing the lands to GREL for a 50-year period.

GREL started payment of compensation to all farmers within the project area in 2015 and out of the 1500acres of Land leased to the company at Asikasu only 373acres of cocoa was cultivated on the land as against the 2000 acres being claimed by some group of people. For the 500 acres of land leased at Okurase not even a single acre of cocoa was found to have been cultivated on the land. Again, we would like to state emphatically that at no point in time has the company forcibly ejected the tenant farmers from the field. At no point in time did GREL engage Police to intimidate the famers into accepting the cheques for compensation.

For the Asikasu Land about 95% of the tenant farmers have received their compensation but the remaining 5% are refusing to accept the compensation claiming personal ownership of the land. We have been trying to engage them since 2015 and till date they have not provided any proof of ownership of the land. These are the group of farmers creating a lot of disturbance for the company and have refused to come to the table to discuss the issue at hand but rather moving from one media house to another spreading totally false and malicious information about the company. It has gotten to a point that the company will have to move on with its operations and cannot wait any longer since these people are not ready co-operate.

For the Okurase Land, GREL has only been able to develop 50ha out of the 200ha of land leased from the Traditional Authorities in 2015. We are still engaging the tenant farmers so that an amicable solution can be found to the impasse to allow the company develop the rest of the land.

WESTERN REGION

In 2011 GREL leased 2,430(6004.18 Acres) of land from Apinto Stool under the Wassa Fiase Traditional Council. This acquisition was preceded by various stakeholder engagements which involved tenant farmers within the project area and the traditional authorities.

Compensations to all tenant farmers within the project area were paid in 2011. GREL commenced development of the area from 2012 to 2016. During this period GREL allowed all recipients of compensation to continue to maintain their farms until it was time for rubber development. Some of them were on the land for 4 years after having been duly compensated.

Out of the 6000 Acres leased by GREL and duly paid for, management conserved about 20% of the land surface of which about 500Acres is being used as a forest reserve. Environmental Students from the tertiary institutions have been using it (the forest reserve) as a research site and the cost of research is paid by GREL. The cost of conserving this area is the responsibility of GREL.

Based on the good and transparent nature of GREL’s operations, the Apinto Stool in 2012 proposed another 1,566ha (3,870.39 Acres) to GREL for lease. GREL started engaging all the affected farmers from 2012 until April, 2013 when an agreement was reached for the lease of the land.

GREL mapped out an area of 600Acres out of the 3,870acres it leased from Apinto Stool and asked the farmers in these area to keep their farms because of the huge cocoa farms within that area which was estimated to be 400acres. The farmers in these areas have been agitating for the company to come and pay their compensation but the company has refused to do so with the explanation that they need to keep on cultivating their farms.

In addition to the 600acres reserved, GREL decided to conserve another 247Acres which it had duly compensated the farmers in these areas in line with its Environmental Charter.

Payment of compensation to all affected tenant farmers outside the 600acre area reserved was done in 2013. GREL allowed the affected farmers who were compensated in 2013 to continue to keep their farms until it started developing the area from 2017. About 10% of the farmers who refused to take their cheque in 2013 finally collected their cheques in 2017. Before payment was done, GREL met the farmers’ representative and the traditional authorities and a 10% upward adjustment was done before payment.

At no point in time have we forcibly moved farmers from the land or harassed them. GREL has duly paid all compensations to affected farmers and most of them were asked to move after 2 to 4 years after payment of compensation.

As a responsible corporate entity, GREL does not renege on the payments of its statutory obligations such as taxes and dividends to the Government of Ghana(which owns 25% shares in GREL), its Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as undertaking various Corporate Social Responsibility Projects within its operational areas.

On scholarships offered by GREL to brilliant but needy students in our operational areas, GREL offers thirty three (33) fully paid scholarships to brilliant but needy students every year throughout their senior high school education since 2005.

The Corporate Social Responsibility projects across the ten (10) traditional areas that GREL operates, in the Seven (7) Municipal and District Assemblies are there for any well-meaning journalist to see. These projects range from Schools, Community Water projects, Clinics, KVIPS, Community Centres, Libraries etc. GREL has spent over 2.5 million euros from 2006 to date on these Corporate Social Responsibility projects and initiatives which are dotted across the length and breadth of our operational areas.

As a sign of GREL’S commitment to the communities and the Association of Chiefs on Whose Lands GREL Operates (ACLANGO), the Company, in 2006, constructed and donated an ultra-modern office building to the Association at Agona Nkwanta, Western Region. In addition, the Company also pays fully the salaries of the administrative staff, the utility bills and all other administrative expenditure needed for the smooth running of the office every month.

Additionally, the Company contributes significant amount in cash to Nananom towards the yearly celebration of the communities’ annual festivals.

As a responsible Company which is committed to food security, GREL has in collaboration with Crop Research Institute, trained our outgrower farmers on how to grow and maintain food crops on their rubber farms. This proud initiative of ours has received tonnes of commendations from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and other international organisations. Some of our outgrower farmers have also received accolades and awards at the district levels in past celebrations of Farmers’ Day ceremonies.

We hope this would correct the misinformation that has been churned out by certain media organisations and individuals.

Issued by Management,

Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL)

–

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

The post We’ve not forcibly taken over cocoa farms – GREL appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the issue has affected the growth of the cocoa sector as politicians have over the years, used cocoa’s prospects to their gain.

The warning also comes at a time where government and the industry watchers are contemplating on the next move on pricing for farmers with the continuous drop in the global price of cocoa.

Despite the slump in international price of cocoa (from 3000 dollars to 1900 dollars), government maintained the producer price of cocoa beans for the 2017/2018 crop season at 7,600 cedis per metric tonne.

Senior Research Fellow under the Development Strategy and Governance Division at the IFPRI, Shashi Kolavalli advised government to educate farmers on the real price fluctuations on the international market to avert the perennial apprehension among them when prices begin to slide.

“The current path the government is taking is not sustainable; the important thing about managing the sector is to let the farmers understand that what they get is really dependent on the market”.

He added, “In my view, the government has failed to do that; in a way it comes across to the farmers as how much is the government going to give me which is a government policy and that is why now when prices are increasing, government can take credit for it and when prices are declining like now, they have to find a way to take the price up as a government…if they don’t, farmers will then think and say that government is not paying me well so stabilization is difficult.”

Shashi Kolavalli made the remarks at the launch of a book on Ghana’s cocoa industry titled, “The Cocoa Coast.”

Mr. Kolavalli also advised that COCOBOD partners with players in the private sector to make the administration of the cocoa sector more efficient.

He also advised that the country should increase its fertilizer use to boost production as well as find other means to irrigate the cocoa trees in the wake of changing rainfall patterns in the country.

“In order for Ghana to increase production in the cocoa sector, it must increase the use and supply of fertilizer to farmers for their cocoa farms. Also, I can say that in comparing Ghana’s rainfall pattern to that of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana is behind as the weather pattern here has changed; so there must be alternative ways to address this issue.”

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By: Anita Arthur/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post Political interference threatens future of Ghana’s cocoa appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

In 2017, hundreds of hectares of cocoa plantations were destroyed by the activities of miners across the country, with cocoa farms in the Eastern, Western and Ashanti regions being the worst affected.

Recently, the activities of rubber companies and illegal miners, at Asikesu in the Upper West Akyem District and Kwabeng district respectively have reportedly caused the destruction of thousands of acres of cocoa plantation, denying farmers and their families of their livelihoods.

Speaking to Citi News at a sod cutting ceremony for the construction of the National Cocoa Museum at Mampong in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region, the Public Affairs Director of COCOBOD, Noah K. Amenya, condemned the activities of such companies.

“I must say we are not happy with the destruction of cocoa plantations and if COCOBOD had powers on land use, we would say that no one should destroy cocoa farms for any other cultivation. But unfortunately we do not have that power,” he said.

Mr. Amenya also pleaded with traditional authorities and other stakeholders not to sell out cocoa plantations and land earmarked for cocoa farms.

“We are appealing to opinion leaders that cocoa has helped this country over a period of time. We have seen scholarships for school children, we have seen roads being constructed from cocoa proceeds so, therefore, we should guard cocoa farms instead of allowing illegal miners and rubber companies to have access to cocoa lands. We will suffer in the long run if care is not taken. We will continue to advocate and plead with traditional rulers, chiefs and stakeholders not to sell out cocoa farms to companies whose activities will not generate the relevant benefits and revenue that cocoa generates for this country.”

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By: Neil Nii Amatey Kanarku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post COCOBOD slams mining, rubber firms for ‘destroying’ cocoa lands appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The CPC maintains that the decision is necessary to stay relevant in the cocoa sector and give investors value for money.

The cocoa processor is indebted to a group of syndicated banks to the tune of $20,213,037 for over a decade now.

This has also been blamed on the persistent challenges that have confronted the company for sometime now.

These border on unfavourable economic conditions; market, operational and environmental conditions, among others.

The Managing Director of the Cocoa Processing Company, Nana Agyenim Boateng who was speaking at a facts behind the figures session on Tuesday further explained the conditions under which the extension has been calculated.

“Looking at the two options available, that is what will determine the decision to take with the banks. Upon waiting and realized that the banks were not pursuing  the money even at a time that the results are turning positive, there is a lot of re-financing options available. But I am only being careful and not being ungrateful that is why I am asking for an extension but if a bank insists, then I’d have to find money to repay the money as quickly as possible,” he explained.

Reacting to concerns on whether or not the company sought a reduction on the interest rate charged on the loan initially, Mr. Agyenim Boateng replied in the negative.

He argued that such decision would have compounded the banks’ challenges due to the length of the delay of the repayment.

“I didn’t get the 9.58% reduced because I have starved the banks of their due for long,” he added.

The affected banks include Barclays Bank, Ecobank and Societe Generale.

Meanwhile the company has assured that it is working to pay all outstanding debts owed the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).

In 2005, COCOBOD was converted some 16 million dollars of its debt owed it by CPC into equity.

Subsequently in 2008, the regulator also moved some 32 million dollars of CPC’s indebtedness into long term loan at an annual interest rate of 5%.

The recent announcement by CPC follows months of caution of a possible delisting from the Ghana Stock Exchange due to the company’s inability to meet its listing obligations such as paying of listing fees, not organizing AGM’s, non-disclosure of financial statements, among others.

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By: Pius Amihere Eduku/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post CPC extends payment for 20 million dollar debt appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Aidoo made the observation when he toured some cocoa farms in the Western South and Western North Cocoa Regions of Ghana to acquaint himself of the state of cocoa farms after the introduction of the Hand Pollination exercise.

He expressed disappointment at the state of CSSVD infestation when he was greeted with it as well as pest infestations on some farms.

Mr. Aidoo was accompanied on the familiarization tour by the directors of the various COCOBOD subsidiaries: Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) and Seed Production Division (SPD).

He used the occasion to discuss with some subsidiary heads remedial actions to be taken immediately and also design a rehabilitation programme. He implored them to take samples of the diseased pods for further studies to arrive at the appropriate interventions.

The chief executive stated his readiness to tackle the state of disease infestation on the Ghanaian cocoa industry, ‘Until we are able to take stringent measures to curtail the disease infestations on large tracts of cocoa farms, cocoa yield in the coming years will drastically fall’, he said. ‘The likely poor yield can impoverish the Ghanaian cocoa farmer and affect the overall world chocolate industry’ he added.

Mr. Aidoo stated that the only means to salvage the distressed situation will be to source for funds to embark on vigorous cocoa farm rehabilitation programme while deepening the Cocoa Hi-Tech programme to massively fight cocoa disease and pest infestation.

He called on cocoa farmers to fully embrace the interventions that will be used to decrease the cocoa diseases and pest infestations as a means to fighting the menace.

The Managing Director of Quality Control Company, Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku used the occasion to demonstrate to some farmers how to handle cocoa beans to ensure good quality cocoa beans for sale.

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By: citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

The post COCOBOD to tackle swollen shoot disease appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.