A GNA Feature by Nicholas Nii-Abbey (AIJC Intern)

Accra, Oct. 6 GNA 96 There is nothing more glorious than to see what belongs to you taken away wrongly and later being returned to you.

The Good Book says, "The joy of the Lord is the beginning of our strength" but the restoration of the assets of the Ghana Co-operative Marketing Association (GCMA) by the Government would definitely bring joy and laughter to the Association and it members.

The Association would now remember their past and some of the glories they shared. They have really come a long way and have fought this battle to the fullest through thick and thin in seeing to the restoration of their assets.

The revived Ghana Co-operative Marketing Association Limited (GCMA) had appealed to President John Agyekum Kufour to ask Ghana COCOBOD to restore their operating licence to enable its farmers and employees to go back to work.

The Association at a special general meeting in Accra expressed concern that COCOBOD had not yet complied with a Government directive to return assets of the Association despite repeated appeals. Mr Daniel Kwasi Adusei, Acting Chairman of the Board of the Association, said the Association was adequately prepared to resume operation during the impending main cocoa crop season.

"We are, therefore, appealing to your Excellency to ask COCOBOD to restore our licence for the sake of our numerous farmers and employees, who are disillusioned and upset by the withdrawal of our licence," Mr Adusei said.

He said the Association had imported sufficient new weighing scales and their strategic plan for 2006 to 2008 spelt out their determination to enter the productive area by producing maize, cassava and other food and cash crops as their participation in the President's Special Initiative (PSI).

Mr Adusei recalled the contribution of the Co-operatives since their establishment in 1928 and said it was the oldest cocoa marketing company among all the Licenced Buying Companies.

The Association noted with concern that it had, however, since 1961 been subjected to political interference by various governments, culminating in the confiscation of its assets, including cocoa sheds houses and bungalows for nearly 46 years.

"From the above scenario, we have been victims of circumstances beyond our control. This is a bitter experience for co-operative peasant farmers, who have contributed immensely towards the socio-economic development of the country before and after independence.

"Indeed, this was a death trap calculated to kill the GCMA from the cocoa industry at a time when the cocoa market is proliferated with small-scale cocoa marketers, who are new in the system."

Mr Aidoo reiterated the call to release the Association's assets to enable it use them as collateral to secure loans from the banks. Mr Dan Boakye Agyemang, an official from the Office of the President, said Government was not in support of assets confiscation.

He gave the assurance that he had personally been tasked to liaise with the COCOBOD to see to the release of their assets.

Nana Kwame Kasapreko III, Omanahene of the Wassa Traditional Area, who chaired the meeting, recalled the contributions of the co-operative to education development through scholarship schemes.

He urged the members of the Association to remove all bottlenecks to ensure the Association's survival.

As we bear witness to the struggle of the Association let us all say to ourselves never again in the history of Ghana would it happen and our government should do away with the act of confiscation of assets since the dark days in this country are over. Let us remember that together we stand divided we fall. 6 Oct. 06