Whilst the current National Best Cocoa Farmer, Madam Abenaa Maaboa, 70, was busily working on her farm at Abuom, near Sankore in the Brong Ahafo Region, thieves were raiding her house.

They succeeded in taking away more than ?28 million being the money for the produce sold and 2,000 dollars being kept for a funeral. Capitalising on her absence, the thieves forced the door to one of her rooms open and made away with the amount in the afternoon, when all the household and neighbours had gone to farm.

Narrating the story on Wednesday, Paul Boafo, son of Madam Maaboa, said that three people who allegedly confessed to the crime had been arrested. They are Kofi Kontor also known as Akatyie, 14, Kofi Asamoah, 19, and Odeefo Atinka, 14, all unemployed citizens of Abuom. He said the suspects said they used the money to buy bicycles and motor bykes.

According to Mr Boafo, the sudden change in the life-styles of the alleged thieves led to their rest on February 16 by the locals who handed them over to the police, 18 miles away.