As part of efforts by Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to infuse transparency and efficiency into the distribution of inputs to farmers, it has reconstituted the membership of district taskforces across the seven cocoa growing regions in the country. Some agencies including security services have been brought on board to form the district taskforces.

The inclusion of the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), Ghana Police Service, National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and representatives of District Assemblies will help to ensure fairness, equity and transparency in the distribution process at the district levels.

This was disclosed by Mr. Samuel Amponsah, the Western North Regional Senior Manager of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division of Ghana Cocoa Board during the inauguration of ten different District Task Forces in the Region.

Mr. Amponsah, further stated that only farms that have been measured by COCOBOD extension staff will benefit from the free fertilizers and chemicals.

He explained that over aged, diseased and abandoned farms do not qualify to be supplied with fertilizers under the CODAPEC /HI TECH programmes.

He advised farmers to cut old cocoa farms for the supply of free seedlings as well as chemicals for improved yields. He implored farmers to cooperate with extension officers for the provision of extension services for high production.

Inaugurating the taskforces on behalf of the Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Mr. James Kofi Kutsoati, Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Operations, advised the members to ensure the smooth distribution of the fertilizers and chemicals in a non-partisan manner.

Mr. Kutsoati hinted that COCOBOD has increased the quantity of fertilizers and chemicals to be distributed for the 2015/16 season following ongoing nationwide mopping up exercises on farm measurement across the cocoa regions. According to him, COCOBOD expects members of the taskforces to deliver on their mandate.

Mr. Kutsoati further assured farmers that COCOBOD would continue to improve the livelihoods of farmers through the construction of school infrastructure, boreholes, roads and provision of scholarships to wards of cocoa farmers.

He later administered the oath of office and assured members of COCOBOD’s support for a successful roll out of the programme.