Olam hands over mechanised borehole to Ackaakrom
A mechanised borehole built at a cost of Gh¢31,000 has been handed over to the people of Ackaakrom in the Akontombra District in the Western Region.
Advertisement
The facility, which was funded by the Cocoa Division of Olam Ghana Ltd, also comes with a reservoir capable of storing 15,000 tonnes of water. The facility is projected to serve the water needs of the inhabitants of Ackaakrom and surrounding communities.
The Ackaakrom water facility is an addition to the many water projects undertaken by the company in the northern parts of the Western Region. The company intends to extend the facility to other areas under its operations, including Dunkwa, Twifo Praso and Nkawkaw.
Inauguration
The Head of Business at Olam, Mr Gurinder Goindi Singh, inaugurated the facility, said the provision of the project was part of the company’s contribution towards the wellbeing of the inhabitants of Ackaakrom.
According to him, the facility, which would bring about improvement in the lives of cocoa farmers in the areas in which the company was operating, would in addition serve as an incentive to make them increase production and consequently their income.
Mr Goindi said Olam Ghana Ltd would sustain initiatives and programmes that would improve the lives of all its stakeholders.
Cocoa production
The Project Manager of Cocoa Rehabilitation and Intensification Programme (CORIP), Mr Eric Agyare, expressed concern over the low levels of cocoa production in the country currently.
He said at the moment, a hectare of cocoa farm produced an average of 1.5 tonnes of the beans which is less than that produced by other producer countries on the same portion of land.
He attributed the reduction in the quantity of cocoa produced in the country to ageing cocoa trees and farmers as well as reduced land fertility.
To find a lasting solution to the problem, Mr Agyare said the Ghana COCOBOD and other stakeholders in the cocoa industry were in partnership with the Netherlands Embassy and the International Fertiliser Development Centre to research into ways of improving cocoa production.
Training
The Sustainability Manager for Cocoa at Olam Ghana Ltd, Mr Kennedy Ntoso, said the company had employed trained agriculture extension officers in its areas of operation to support farmers to employ good agricultural, economic and environmental practices.
Commendation
The Chief of Ackaakrom, Nana Asante Krobea, commended Olam Ghana for supporting the community consistently by working to improve the standard of living of the people.