We’ll tackle illegal mining, revitalise cocoa sector — A/R Minister designate

The Ashanti Regional Minister designate, Dr Frank Amoakohene, has indicated his commitment to tackling illegal mining, revitalising the cocoa sector and addressing sanitation and market infrastructural challenges in the region. 

Appearing before the Appointments Committee of Parliament yesterday, he stressed that winning the fight against illegal mining would require collective effort and ownership by the communities most affected.

“In order to win that fight, we will need the community to own the fight. In the absence of the community owning the fight, our efforts may not see the right results that we need to see,” he noted.

Cocoa

The nominee shared insights from interactions with communities where cocoa farmers had cut down their plantations to engage in mining due to its higher profitability compared to cocoa farming.

He attributed the shift to the financial burdens of maintaining cocoa farms, including the cost of fertilisers and spraying.

Dr Amoakohene, therefore, called for the return to policies that previously alleviated those burdens.

“We need to make the cocoa industry a lucrative one. In times past, we used to provide free fertilisers for our cocoa farmers. We need to get back to that policy so they can save some money which will help increase their profit margin,” he stated.

He also highlighted the need to increase the prices paid to cocoa farmers to make the sector more attractive, ensuring farmers preserved their cocoa rather than turning to illegal mining.

Dr Amoakohene also said he would prioritise the completion of major market projects, including the Kejetia Central Market and Krofrom Market, to decongest those areas and reduce crime.

On sanitation, the nominee mentioned waste management as a significant challenge but expressed confidence in addressing it through innovative solutions.

“We should treat waste as a resource instead of just refuse that needs to be dumped somewhere. Recycling and source segregation are critical steps,” he explained.

He also proposed the reintroduction of buyback centres to incentivise waste segregation and recycling.

Furthermore, he advocated round-the-clock waste management services in high-waste-generating areas to ensure effective control of sanitation problems.

Vision

Dr Amoakohene emphasised the importance of engaging the youth in regional governance and empowering them through skills training and social media engagement.

He reiterated his intention to leverage social media to promote good governance and actively involve young people in development initiatives.

Additionally, he highlighted the potential of the government’s National Apprenticeship Programme to train one million youth in digital and technical skills, promising to ensure the Ashanti Region benefits from such initiatives.

Bipartisanship

Dr Amoakohene underscored the importance of collaboration, promising to work with all stakeholders, irrespective of political affiliations, to ensure equitable development.

“Partisanship must take a back seat when it comes to development. I will collaborate with everyone to ensure no community is left behind,” he said.