Tepa (Ash), Feb 16, GNA - Nana Moses Oppong Fordjour, Ahafo-Ano North District Chief Farmer of the Ghana Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Farmers Association, has advised cocoa farmers to ferment their cocoa beans for six to seven days to ensure quality beans.

Nana Fordjour gave the advice during a monthly meeting of the district branch at Tepa on Monday.

He said the regional association has requested the Ashanti Regional Security Council to empower them to enforce the use of Akuafo Cheques by all cocoa buying companies for the payments of cocoa purchases this year to rid the industry of all fraudulent deals and frequent stealing of cocoa beans.

He advised the farmers to support the executives of the association to enforce all good practices in the industry for their own interest and that of the country.