Domeabra (E/R), Sept 11, GNA- Cocoa farmers in the Upper West Akyem of the Eastern Region have praised the government for the cocoa spraying exercise.

Cocoa farmers in these areas say the exercise has enabled them to increase output and expressed the hope that it will be sustained to enable Ghana to re-capture its former position as the world's largest producer of cocoa.

The Chiefs and cocoa farmers said this when the Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah toured the area to inspect projects on Wednesday.

At Odumkyere-Darmang, the Chief cocoa farmer, Opanin Abraham Oppey, said cocoa farmers have not had it so good and said President J.A. Kufuor's initiative was improving the lot of the farmers.

Dr Osafo Mensah assured farmers that the government will continue the spraying exercise since cocoa is still the backbone of the economy.

Projects he inspected included a six-unit classroom block at Domeabra at a cost of 232.2 million cedis for the L/A Primary School and funded by the Japanese Embassy, Obra Foundation and the West Akyem District Assembly.