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LBCs warned against buying fresh cocoa beans
Akim Oda (E/R), Sept 25, Ghanadot/GNA – An official of Ghana
COCOBOD has appealed to Licensed Buying Companies (LBC) to
desist from buying fresh cocoa beans and that they would be
sanctioned when caught.
Mr. Kwadwo Kyei, Principal Quality Control Officer of the
COCOBOD of the Akim Oda Cocoa District, told the GNA that
some purchasing clerks from LBCs used buckets to measure the
fresh beans with a view to cheating them.
“Some of the clerks, mostly those operating in the smaller
towns and villages, use hanging scales that have been banned
instead of the approved platform scales to weigh the beans.”
Mr. Kyei said this was an attempt by the clerks to cheat
farmers and that "by their actions they violate one cardinal
principle that regulates the cocoa industry."
He described the practice as detrimental to the cocoa sector
and that if the practice was encouraged it could affect the
quality of the cocoa beans.
Mr Kyei urged purchasing clerks to educate farmers on the
need to ferment the cocoa beans for six days before drying.
GNA
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