The President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asked Former President John Dramani Mahama to stop shedding a “crocodile tears” as if the government of National Democratic Congress (NDC) did something to better the life of cocoa farmers during its tenure.
The president who was addressing a durbar of chiefs and cocoa farmers at Daboase in the Wassa East District of the Western Region during his two-day working visit to the region indicated that Former President John Agyakum Kuffour rolled out good policies to improve on cocoa production in the country.
He said due to those good policies initiated by Former President Kuffour, cocoa production rose from 750,000 tonnes to 1 million tonnes in the late President John Atta Mills’ regime.
According to President Akufo-Addo, former President Mahama inherited the 1 million tonnes of cocoa production but was unable to sustain it such that at the time he was leaving office, cocoa production in the country had reduced to barely 700,000 tonnes.
Today, Government he said has raised cocoa prodution to 900,000 tonnes yet former President Mahama moves about shedding crocodile tears in front of cocoa farmers as if he did something to better their lot.
“These are crocodile tears. It has nothing to do with the reality of what is happening in Ghana”, the president said.
The President’s comment is in response to recent pronouncements made by Former President Mahama that cocoa farmers were better off during his tenure than now.
To this end, Nana Akufo Addo challenged the former President Mahama to come and tell Ghanaians what his government did to boost agriculture and cocoa production in Ghana.
“I can tell you the answer in advance – zero”, he mentioned.
He however stressed that his government is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to augment cocoa production in the Ghana.
He Added that the Planting for Food and Jobs policy has improved agriculture exceedingly stating that for Western Region, 550,000 coconut seedlings and 1.6 million oil palm seedlings have been distributed to farmers.
He said government would continue to implement its transformational policies to improve the living conditions of all Ghanaians.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COCOBOD, Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo also addressing the cocoa farmers pointed out that, former President Mahama’s regime was a dark period for cocoa farming in the country. This according to the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD was characterized by lower yields and lower benefits for farmers.
Beachfmonline.com | Ghana
