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, 13th November, 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.
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 prioritize 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 terribly 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 lies and propaganda, and in the last eight years, the NPP has totally 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 become poorer under Akufo-Addo and Bawumia.”