A ten-member cocoa taskforce was on Wednesday inaugurated at Dunkwa-On-Offin with a call on the members to ensure that cocoa fertilizers and chemicals were not diverted.

The taskforce, made up of the Municipal Police Commander, representative each of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) and the District Assembly as well as cocoa officers would among others ensure the equitable distribution of fertilizers and chemicals meant for cocoa farmers.

Mr Kofi Kutsoati, Deputy Chief Executive in-Charge of Operations at the COCOBOD, who made the call when he inaugurated the taskforce, said the Government in collaboration with COCOBOD and the taskforce, would help address the numerous complaints made about the diversion of fertilizers and other chemicals.

He said the Taskforce was mandated to monitor the delivery of fertilizers and chemicals from the Port to the final distribution point and also has the mandate to prosecute people who would flout the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

Mr Kutsoati urged the taskforce members to take their work seriously to ensure the success and sustenance of the programme.

Mrs Emelia Ankomah, Municipal Chief Executive, who has an oversight responsibility on the taskforce pledged to give the programme the needed support to ensure its success and pleaded with COCOBOD to speed up the rehabilitation of roads leading to Cocoa farms in the area.

In a related development a similar taskforce was inaugurated at Diaso in the Upper Denkyira West District.