About 174,000 cocoa farmers in 450 cocoa-growing communities in Ghana have received Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) worth GH¢454,000.
The items, procured by the Mondelez International in partnership with Child Rights International (CRI), are meant to assist cocoa farmers in their fight against the deadly respiratory disease, Covid-19.
The items were handed over to COCOBOD and subsequently delivered to the farmers at a ceremony held in Accra on Tuesday. The items include: thermometer guns to check the temperature of people; a public address system to roll out public education on the coronavirus pandemic; modernised handwashing machines, nose masks, soaps and alcohol based hand sanitizers.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Country Director of Mondelez International Cocoa Life Programme, Mrs. Yaa Peprah Amekudzi, said the organisation is determined to contribute its quota in the fight against spread of coronavirus.
Recognising the role cocoa farmers play in Ghana’s economic development, Mrs. Amekudzi, said Mondelez International and Child Rights International thought it wise to extend a helping hand to cocoa farmers.She therefore appealed for cocoa farmers to adhere to the various precautionary measures in order to avoid infection.
However, the president of concern farmers association, Nana Opambour Bonsu Boateng has lauded the move but, said there are many challenges about the cocoa sector which need attention.
According to him, galamseyers are destroying cocoa lands, some of the cocoa trees are even cut to plant different crops like ruber and the likes, which is not helping the sector.
He suggested there should be a law in a form of license to back the cocoa farmers so anytime a cocoa farmer decide to give out his cocoa farm for galamsey, the government will be able to track and deal with person involve.
’’Farmers need more education on how to use the personal protective equipment and why they need to wear use them.”
He appealed education regarding symptoms of the virus must be strengthened by the “COCOBOD and not just giving out PPEs.”
Source: ritefmonline.org/Mavisatteh7@gmail.com
