Regional News of Friday, 22 August 2014

Source: GNA

Farmers appeal for rehabilitation of Ankwaso-Adesu road

Cocoa farmers at Ankwaso in the Wassa- Amenfi Central District have appealed to the government to act quickly to put into good shape the 32-kilometre Ankwaso-Adesu-Junction road to end their suffering.

They said the bad nature of the road was making it stressful and agonising, transporting the huge tonnes of cocoa they produce.

The farmers told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the situation gets worse, especially during the rainy season.

Nana Kwame Adu, Akwamuhene of Mpatasie-Hemang, said the people could only travel on KIA cargo trucks and tractors, and that, despite the discomfort, they are forced to pay unreasonably high fares.

The state of affairs needs to change given the significant contribution the farmers are making to the nation’s economy.

There are more than 30 cocoa sheds built in the area by different licensed cocoa buying companies (LBCs).

He said they found it deeply worrying, the extent of neglect and the resultant deterioration, pointing out that the last time the road was rehabilitated was in 1992.

Nana Adu stated that this was a disincentive to farming as it had become a punishment to live and farm in the area.