By Alex Boye
The President of the Ghana Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Association, Alhaji Alhassan Bukari, has noted that the introduction of the Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme by the Government would go a long way to enhance their operations.
He lauded President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the introduction of the scheme, adding that it would go a long way to help people embrace farming.
Speaking at the inauguration of a Ten (10) member Board of Trustees of the Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme in Accra yesterday, Alhaji Bukari, was optimistic that the scheme would be of great help to them as farmers at their retired ages.
The National Chief Farmer also disclosed that that the Scheme would help provide a credible data management system for farmers across the country.
He charged authorities to ensure that farmers were sensitised on the essence of the scheme to help get more people on board.
Alhaji Bukari therefore called on all farmers to ensure that they are registered unto the scheme for the benefit of their future.
On his part, Mr. Emmanuel Opoku, who represented the Chief Executive Officer of the COCOBOD, stated that the main brain behind the introduction of the scheme was to make lives bearable for all farmers at their retired ages.
“President Akufo Addo called for the introduction of the scheme with the aim of improving the living conditions for cocoa farmers when they retired from active farming” he disclosed.
Mt. Opoku announced authorities preparedness in ensuring that all farmers were registered unto the scheme to help achieved the purpose of the initiative.
The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Afriyie Owusu Akoto, during his delivery at the event, noted the scheme was a great opportunity that should be grabed by farmers.
The introduction of the scheme the Minister said tells how best President Akufo Addo cherish Ghana’s gallant farmers.
The Minister Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatious Baffuor Awuah, said “it is a blessing to Ghana that this scheme has been introduced because Cocoa Farmers have for many years served the country and therefore deserved better”.
The Minister who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani West charged authorities in-charge of the scheme to ensure transparency in their operations to ensure the success of the initiative.
