Tema — President John Agyekum Kufuor has commissioned a 50,000 tonnes cocoa warehouse, estimated at a cost of approximately GH¢24 million, for the Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod), at Tema last Tuesday.

The facility has offices for the Quality Control Division, Cocoa Marketing Company Limited, and Licensed Buying Companies, with canteen facilities, as well as modern sanitary systems, meant to serve cocoa loaders and their drivers.

Five warehousing blocks, each with a 10,000 tonne capacity, which were named after Sefwi Wiawso, Bonsu Nkwanta and Dedieso in the Western North (Cocoa) region and Enchi and Dadieso in the Western South (Cocoa) region, could be found on the premises of the facility.

The warehouse also has conveyor belts, forklifts and weighbridges with digital check-weighing system, which brings the standard of the facility to international standing.

Speaking at the commissioning of the facility, President Kufuor said with the commissioning of the warehouse, the government's goal of achieving a production of one million tonnes of cocoa by the year 2010, was actively on course.

"For this, government will support farmers to sustain the adoption of cocoa hi-tech practices, including mass spraying, that have proved effective in achieving the current high level production of 700,000 tonnes."

He disclosed that the government had approved Cocobod's plan to commence the construction of a 100,000 tonne capacity warehouse, estimated at a cost of US$65 million, at Kajebril in the Ahanta District of the Western Region, effective next month.

He said he had also directed Cocobod to intensify its efforts to control the Swollen Shoot Virus Disease, which continues to trouble cocoa farmers in the country.

President Kufuor pledged government's support for all Cocobod's policies, aimed at sustaining continuous growth in the cocoa industry in the country.

The Minister of Finance, Mr. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Prof. George Gyan Baffour, appealed to Cocobod to ensure that post-harvest losses are reduced to the barest minimum.

He said the construction of the warehouse was an "indication of the positive commitment of the government, to the growth of the cocoa industry," adding, "The Ministry will do all it can to support Cocobod improve upon its facilities, practices and performance for the benefit of the farmer, and other stakeholders in the industry."

Isaac Osei, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cocobod, disclosed that a new quality control office, and a state of the art laboratory, equipped to carry out on site real time tests, which will enable Cocobod to adhere to new international regulations, especially those on maximum residue limits of chemicals in cocoa beans, will soon be built.

"With the development of an efficient warehousing system, it is also expected that malpractices in our port operations, will be minimized if not eliminated," he said.

He disclosed that in spite of the massive oil find at Cape Three Points in the Western Region, the cocoa industry would continue to be very vibrant, as cocoa farmers in the six regions of the country, would continue to depend on cocoa for their livelihood.

The colourful programme was attended by farmers and chiefs, mostly from cocoa growing areas across the length and breadth of the country.