Joyce Bawah Mogtari, the Campaign Spokesperson and Special Aide to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has voiced strong concerns over the poor condition of roads leading to Ghana's Western Region, the country's main cocoa-producing area.

In a post on X on Wednesday, November 13, she described the roads as being in a state of severe disrepair, stressing the negative impact this has on farmers and the cocoa trade.

Madam Bawah highlighted the difficulties faced by farmers in the region due to the neglected infrastructure.

We are in the #WesternNorth specifically Ghana’s main cocoa growing region. They are growing cocoa but they are not necessarily part of the whole logistics chain of the industry.

The Cocoa Board, Cocoa Research Institute, the Produce Buying Company and other ancillary…

— Joyce Bawah Mogtari (@joyce_bawah) November 13, 2024

She warned that the poor state of the roads is not only hindering the transport of cocoa, one of Ghana's most vital exports but also affecting the overall livelihoods of those dependent on the industry.

Her comments come amid increasing calls for better infrastructure support in key agricultural areas.

In her post, Madam Bawah assured that the NDC, under the leadership of John Dramani Mahama, is committed to addressing the issue.

She stated that Mr Mahama, if elected in the forthcoming election, would prioritise the rehabilitation of these roads. According to Bawah, improving access to the Western Region is essential to boosting the local economy and supporting the country’s cocoa farmers.

"The Cocoa Board, Cocoa Research Institute, the Produce Buying Company and other ancillary organizations associated with cocoa growing and production are all located in the Capital City of Ghana. Even the roads leading to the region are in a deplorable condition."

"So when John Mahama proposed to reconstruct and rehabilitate road infrastructure for our Cocoa growing areas it was a very important intervention meant to improve access, improve infrastructure, improve the quality of roads and enhance the environment in and around cocoa farming communities."

"But alas, our opponents won the 2016 elections, thanks to the lies and propaganda and in the last eight years, the NPP has failed to deliver on the cocoa roads. After all the failed promises, of 1D1F, one million dollars per constituency etc, Ghana’s Cocoa growing communities have been short-changed and have got poorer under Akufo Addo and Bawumia."