The move will now allow the two countries to enact common laws and use workable strategies to improve cocoa yields.

In order to ensure a much better involvement in the international pricing of cocoa, the two Governments, through their respective cocoa institutions, namely the Coffee-Cocoa Board for Côte d’Ivoire, and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), agreed to adopt common policies on the marketing, storage and processing, and promotion of local consumption of cocoa.

Ghana’s Lands and Natural Resources Minister, John Peter Amewu, who spoke to media after the meeting on Monday, said, “the meeting was to agree to a roadmap to a framework of the actions, that the two countries intend to put forward an issue of climate change. We know that this has become very predominant across the world and as neighbours with a common goal, we are more interested in collaborating to achieve the objectives we set.”

“We thought it wise to come together and present a common joint action. Don’t forget that Ghana and Ivory Coast have already had some strategic partnerships at government to government level, which was witnessed just about two weeks ago.”

He noted that “This is in preparation for our deforestation program in terms of degradation which is as a result of illegal small scale mining. This we know is contributing to the reduction in cocoa production. We also want to make sure that we contain and maintain our forest and prepare it for the future generation.”

Cote D’Ivoire remains the world’s leading producer of cocoa, whilst Ghana is second.

In the 2015/2016 crop year, about 1.58 million metric tons of cocoa beans were produced in Côte d’Ivoire.

Ghana on the other hand, bagged only 690,000 metric tonnes of cocoa beans for the 2015/2016 crop season, despite a target of 850,000 metric tonnes. It therefore missed its target by 160,000 metric tonnes.

The shortfall was attributed to poor managerial policies of the Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod), and unfavourable weather conditions.

Figures from Cocobod indicated that, the country’s highest output for cocoa production was 1,024,552 metric tonnes which was recorded in the 2010/2011 crop season.
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By: Kojo Agyeman/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Desiri Forest Reserve at Siechem which shares boundaries with the Ashanti and Western regions is being destroyed by the illegal operators.

The District Chief Executive, Robert Mensah Dwomoh, who confirmed the development during the first meeting of the Assembly, accused the Forestry Commission, chiefs and politicians for turning a blind eye to these developments.

According to him, the Desiri and Bosomkese reserves have been greatly depleted over the years.

“Unpatriotic Ghanaians including the traditional authorities, politicians and even the very people who are paid to protect the forest, have all contributed to the rapid degradation of the reserves.”

He appealed to traditional authorities and Assembly members along the reserves not to hesitate to report any illegality for the necessary action to be taken.

He also called on the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the National Security and the government to help them fight against the illegal chainsaw operators who he said were heavily armed.

The Chief of the Siechem traditional Council, Nana Boffo Banin, told Citi News that, he has petitioned the DCE to take action against the crime after his tricycle and motorbike were burnt by the illegal chainsaw operators and some farmers.

Reports say most of the criminals were from neighbouring countries including Burkina Faso, and they have pitched camp in wooden structures within the forest reserves.

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By: Atiewin Mohammed/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post B/A: Illegal chainsaw operators invade forest reserves appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Steven Gerrard has revealed he told Luis Suarez to stay at Liverpool last season as he was too good for Arsenal.

Suarez, who left Anfield for Barcelona earlier this month in a £75million deal, was linked with a move to Premier League rivals Arsenal last summer after they tabled a £40m bid for his services.

However, Liverpool managed to keep hold of the Uruguay international and Gerrard has admitted he played a key role in persuading Suarez to snub the overtures of the Gunners.

Gerrard admits he is sad to see Suarez leave Anfield, but holds no grudges against last season’s top scorer for making the move to Spanish giants Barcelona.

“His dream all along from the first day he came was to play for Real Madrid or Barcelona,” said Gerrard

“Last summer when he was out in the cold and training on his own that’s the conversation I had with him. I said, ‘Don’t go to Arsenal’.

“With all due respect to them, I said to him that he was too good for Arsenal.

“I said, ‘If you score 30 goals for us and win the PFA Player of the Year, the press Player of the Year, they (Barca and Madrid) will come back for you’.

“I have experience of those clubs myself and I know if you play well they will come back and come back. So I knew they’d be back for him as well.

“I just thought for his own sake, and to get respect off the Liverpool fans, he had to give us at least one year.”

Gerrard added: “A lot of people might still think he should have given us one more, but that’s the same with most foreigners.

“My big dream was to play for Liverpool, and the foreign players’ big dream is to play for Real Madrid or Barcelona – that’s a fact.

“For me, I would have been really sad and disappointed to see Luis go to Arsenal.

“I’m disappointed to see him leave now but I am happy for him that’s he has got what he wants and deserves.

“Since day one he has been phenomenal in training every day and in the games.

“His wife is from Barcelona and I don’t think you can begrudge a player like that who has worked so hard for his dream.

“You can’t go against him when he says he is leaving for Barcelona, but I’d have been disappointed if he had left and gone to Arsenal.”

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Source: Sky Sports

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