President Akufo-Addo has challenged former President Mahama to name a single policy, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) introduced during its administration, to boost cocoa production in the country.
He was addressing farmers at Daboase in the Wassa East District of the Western Region, as part of his working tour.
He presented 100,000 oil palm seedlings to farmers under the ‘Planting for Export and Rural Development’ Programme.
President Akufo-Addo unhappy with criticism from his predecessor, urged Mr Mahama to stop shedding what he described as ‘crocodile tears’ in front of cocoa farmers, as his era saw a reduction in the production levels of cocoa.
This he said, is due to the apparent disregard and untoward practices in the sector which characterized the Mahama administration.
The President said under the current dispensation, efficient measures have been initiated which has started bearing fruits.
These include the cocoa pruning and hand initiative.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen-Aidoo said 350 roads are earmarked for rehabilitation and reconstruction under the cocoa roads programme, to address the problem of poor road network in cocoa growing communities.
He indicated that COCOBOD will soon introduce mechanized weeding systems to reduce the labour intensive nature of cocoa farming.
