Accra, Ghana, Feb. 14 - Ghana's President John Agyekum Kufour said Thursday the government has released $100 million as part of a Cocoa Roads Improvement Program, or CRIP, to improve roads in the cocoa growing regions of the country.
In his sessional address to parliament, he said, "the strategic importance of cocoa is acknowledged through the CRIP)," and would involve the tarring or surface dressing of the selected roads.
Local purchase companies have complained about the poor roads in some of the regions which they say has affected the carting of cocoa to the ports.
Last month, cocoa regulator Cocobod signed a 5-year agreement with KAMPAC ME of the United Arab Emirates to convey cocoa beans on the country's central and western rails that the company is to build and operate.
KAMPAC signed a concession agreement with the Ghana Railway Company to rehabilitate, operate and maintain the Western and Central Railway lines in the country on a build, own and operate and transfer basis for 35 years.
Cocobod officials expect that the arrangement with KAMPAC ME will prolong the lifespan of roads in cocoa growing areas.