Alhaji Hassan Iddris, the Chairman of the Supreme Consultative Council (SCC) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has commended the administration of Dr. Stephen Opuni for its effort in advancing the growth of the industry.

He said Dr. Opuni, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), was utilizing both theoretical and practical means to advance the cause of the cocoa industry.

Alhaji Iddris called on the entire workforce to support the administration to enhance the country’s socio-economic growth.

He said this when addressing a forum of COCOBOD workers at Kejebril in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region.

The forum was to discuss the formation of a new union, “Cocoa Industry Workers Union” which seeks to promote the welfare of the cocoa workers.

Alhaji Iddris said it is untrue that the current administration was either retrenching or transferring workers.

Touching on the salary of the CEO, he said this was determined by “the appointing authorities who are paying him.”

Alhaji Iddris said that fertilizers for the cocoa season had arrived and would soon be lifted to the various cocoa growing areas.

He called on officials in charge to ensure that the fertilizer was not diverted but distributed in the right quantities and at the right time to increase productivity.

Alhaji Iddris said though the current production levels are not encouraging as a result of last year’s unfavourable rainfall pattern; there is hope for early rains this year to push the sector’s activities.

Mr. Gilbert Gawu Mensah, Senior Administrator of the COCOBOD Warehouse Complex at the Kejebril Site, entreated workers to stay focused and work assiduously in positioning the company as the backbone of Ghana’s economy.