The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto has allayed fears of China being a competition to Ghana in exporting cocoa to the international market.

 According to him, the quality of Ghana’s cocoa is not matched anywhere in the world, hence the international market opting to pay up to 25% premium on the price.

“They exported 450 kilogrammes, not even one tonne. Ghana produces between 800,000 and 900,000 metric tonnes. Cote D’Ivoire produces over two million metric tonnes, so that’s nothing really to worry about. In any case the quality of Ghana’s cocoa is not matched anywhere else in the world -that is why -the world market is prepared to pay 15 to 25% premium on the world market’s price for Ghana’s cocoa,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Afriyie Akoto stated that the European Union’s move to ban imports from Ghana is a good one as the EU seeks to prompt the country on ending illegal mining.

“This is a result of ‘Galamsey’. We are destroying our environment and the world is concerned about that. They’re saying that we as a government should do something about it so for me it is in the right direction,” he stated.

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, chaired the official ceremony to present a cash prize of GHc570,000 to the 2020 National Best Farmer, Solomon Kusi.

Speaking at the ceremony, Managing Director of ADB, John Mensah indicated that part of the money will be used to acquire and install a Cocoa Drying House and employ more people.

“The bank received an agribusiness proposal from Mr. Kusi through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and after scrutiny by our Agribusiness Division we are satisfied.”

“The document indicated that part of the money will be used to acquire and install a Cocoa Drying House, expand most of his existing farms and employ more people. In addition, there will be construction of three boreholes, upgrade of his agricultural mechanization center and adoption of improved agricultural methods, improved propagation materials, fertilizers, animal feed, etc.,” he disclosed.