Despite the recent increment in the producer price of cocoa by the government, the Western Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo has revealed that smuggling of cocoa from the region to neighbouring Ivory Coast still persists.

The government of Ghana recently increased the producer price of cocoa from GH¢3,392.00 per tonne to GH¢5,520.00 per tonne for the 2014/15 for the 2014/2015 cocoa season.

The increment was to discourage the smuggling of cocoa to Ivory Coast for sale, among others.

However, some cocoa farmers in the region continue to smuggle the produce to Ivory Coast to the detriment of the country probably because the producer price of cocoa in the French-speaking country is higher than what the farmers are being paid in Ghana.

Addressing the ‘Government for People’ forum in Takoradi, the Regional Minister revealed that smuggling of cocoa, timber and rubber to Ivory Coast on the high seas and across the western border negatively affects revenue generation and wealth creation.

The regional minister said there were more than eight chieftaincy disputes in various traditional areas of the region.

He, however, indicated that most of the cases had been adjudicated successfully by members of the Regional House of Chiefs.

“This has stemmed the clashes between factions engaged in the conflicts. Other cases are pending in the courts for settlement,” he added

Paul Evans Aidoo, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sefwi Wiawso, told the gathering that about six District Health Centres in the region would be upgraded into district hospitals.

They included the Elubo, Akontmbra, Wassa Dunkwa and Bogoso District health centres.

He mentioned some health projects that have so far been completed in the region as the Tarkwa Government Hospital, the Essam Hospital in the Bia District, as well as a three-bedroom bungalow for Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital.

“With funding from the District Assemblies and the MPs share of the District Assemblies’ Common Fund, a total of 129 CHPS Compounds are being constructed throughout the region,” he added.

The Regional Minister said the government had made tremendous efforts to rehabilitate some roads in the area.

He indicated that the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) had executed projects to improve major roads in the region.

Mr Evans Aidoo said that work on the Asankragwa-Enchi, Enchi-Dadieso was on-going.

He also disclosed that the 56-kilometre Tarkwa-Bogoso-Ayanfuri Road was about 90 percent complete, noting that work was progressing steadily on the 110 kilometre Agona Junction-Elubo Road.