Kumasi, Oct.12, GNA - Purchasing Clerks of Licence Cocoa Buying Companies (LBCs) have been urged to desist from pressurising cocoa farmers to sell cocoa beans which have not been well dried to them. They should endeavour to buy only well fermented and properly dried cocoa beans from farmers to help prevent the re-occurrence of the purple bean problem that affected the industry last season.

Nana Kwaku Nyarko, Vice President of the Ashanti Regional branch of the Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Farmers Association made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Wednesday. He said the purple bean problem had affected the country's image as the leading producer of quality cocoa beans and advised farmers not to repeat it this cocoa season to enable Ghana to regain her position. Nana Nyarko said the Government would endeavour to assist cocoa farmers to improve on their living standards, therefore, there was the need for them to reciprocate the gesture to enable the Government earned enough foreign exchange to speed up national development.

In addition, he advised purchasing clerks especially those operating within the country's borders not to buy beans from neighbouring countries and mixed them with those produced in the country. Nana Nyarko called on farmers to remain committed and loyal to the Government.