REGIONAL GRIEVANCE REDRESS COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEM INAUGURATED

Date: 17th May 2021

A seven-member Regional Committee has been inaugurated by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to manage some possible grievances on environmental and social issues that may arise in the Board’s quest to implement its Productivity Enhancement Programmes (PEPs) within the cocoa sector.

The Environmental Social and Management System (ESMS) seeks to facilitate uninterrupted implementation of the Boards ongoing PEPs which are all geared towards increasing productivity. The system will ensure that the implementation process conforms to the best environmental and social standards in all cocoa-growing communities within the country.

Inaugurating the committee at the Cocoa House in Kumasi, the COCOBOD Ashanti Regional Administrator, Mr. Edwin Prempeh, commended the members for wholeheartedly accepting to serve on such an important but daunting committee.

“I am very much delighted to you all for accepting to work hand-in-hand with extension officers in all growing communities to support and eradicate activities that may hinder the growth of our cocoa industry”. He said.

Mr. Edwin Prempeh said, environmental issues and cocoa cultivation cannot be separated and that explains why Management is paying keen attention to activities that put the environment in danger.

“Some people use unapproved fertilizers on their cocoa farms. Others spray their farms with unapproved chemicals. These activities affect soil fertility, pollute the air we breathe and also endanger other species that contribute to the sustenance of the human race”, he stressed, adding that members of the committee must do their best to execute the mandate given them.

Mr. Kwadwo Osei Danso, Regional Manager of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED), commended the team for their support and urged them to rally behind COCOBOD to successfully implement the PEPs.

The members of the Committee are: Mr. Kwadwo Osei Danso – Regional Manager (CHED), Mr. Samuel Buah – Regional PEPs coordinator CHED), Nana Adu Mensah Asare –Otumfo / Traditional Council Rep (Amakomhene), Miss Stacey Ofori –LBC’s Rep (Omni Cocoa), Hon. Kwabena Nsenkyire –NADMO Regional Coordinator, Daud Abass –EPA Regional Representative and Nana S. Y. Akuoko – Ashanti Regional Chief Farmer.