Tamale, July 21, GNA- The Association of Sheanut Farmers, Processors and Buyers of Ghana, at the weekend appealed to the Cocoa Marketing Board (CMB) to throw its weight behind the sheanut industry in order to revamp it.

The Association claimed that 20 years of neglect of sheanut farmers by the CMB was leading to collapse of the industry. Mr. John Mahama Yabdoo, spokesperson for the organisation made the appeal in Tamale at the weekend, during an interaction with journalists. Mr called for the separation of sheanut industry from the Cocoa and Coffee component of the CMB in order to make the production and marketing of sheanut profitable and self sustaining. He debunked media reports that the Association was not a legal entity and displayed documents, which showed that, the body was registered in June 2007 under the Ghana Companies code of 1963 with registration number G-21,032. Mr. Yabdoo said the Association was ready to ensure sanity in the industry and asked all organisations or individuals who want to buy or deal in sheanuts to liaise with members to facilitate their business. He said, as part of the welfare package of the Association, farmers were being assisted to foot their medical expenses, especially those who suffer from snakebites, which was common with the collection of sheanuts. 21 July 08