#EXCLUSIVE: Member of Parliament for Asikuma Odoben Brakwa Constituency, Honourable Anythony Effah fulfills his major Campaign promise. | ©SintimBlog

#EXCLUSIVE: Member of Parliament for Asikuma Odoben Brakwa Constituency fulfills his major Campaign promise. | ©SintimBlog

By: Bismark Botchwey 

May 20, 2018

Honourable Anthony Effah 

The member of Parliament for the Asikuma Odoben Brakwa Constituency Honourable Anthony Effah has fulfilled his major campaign promise by launching the Cocoa 'Awowa' Policy. 

Honourable Anthony Effah, during the 2016 general elections as part of his campaign promises and manifesto promised to implement a social intervention policy which will be one of its kind in the Constituency to help tackle the mortgaging of Cocoa farms  by farmers to investors at cheap rate with cruel terms and conditionalities  within the constituency. 

Asikuma Odoben Brakwa Constituency is noted to be one of the largest cocoa producing areas in the Central region of Ghana but most Cocoa farmers are wallowing in poverty all because some of these farmers due to hardship has lease their Cocoa farmlands to investors in the communities in order to get access to financial assistance be it school fees, funeral expenses, projects and business expansion. 

The visionary Member Parliament who is indeed a problem solver together with his hardworking committee members last Tuesday on the 15th May, 2018 at Breman Baako a suburb town in the Districts  launched the Policy and assured the farmers how he is committed in the implementation of this policy in order to help ensure good standard of living among farmers in the District.

This is a life changing initiative as it will help provide jobs and gradually reduce the poverty and unemployment rate in the constituency. 

The policy document concerning this great initiative is drafted below. 

COCOA ‘AWOWA’ POLICY

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The idea behind this policy is to alleviate poverty within Asikuma Odoben Brakwa Constituency. This policy seeks to mitigate the rampant leasing of cocoa farm (Cocoa Awowa) at a cheaper cost at a flexible conditionalities and requirements. This policy also seeks to create an employment opportunities for thepeople in Asikuma Odoben Brakwa, especially theyouth. An amount of Seventy Eight Thousand Nine Hundred and Forty Ghana Cedis (GHS78, 940.00) is proposed for the facility. 

INTRODUCTION

Lack of access to urgent loans in times of need hence mortgaging cocoa farms. This has resulted in farmers mortgaging their farms cheaply to ‘investors’ with cruel terms to the farmer making the farmer poorer and reducing annual production due to lack of good maintenance by the investor after recouping target income.

In response to the call for an alternative and better solution to the existing cruel local cocoa farm mortgagein Asikuma Odoben Brakwa Constituency, the then parliamentary candidate on the ticket of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Hon Anthony Effah deemed it necessary to introduce a policy to mitigate if not to completely eliminate the exiting cruel cocoa farm mortgage problem which was affecting the lives and the goodpeople within the district. 

Upon further deliberations and consultations, theMember of Parliament of Asikuma Odoben Brakwa Constituency, Hon Anthony Effah in a way of improving the lives of his constituents seek to bring on board a policy called ‘Cocoa Awowa Policy’. Cocoa Awowa Policy is going to give funds to those who urgently need money to that effect in the form of loan as little as 20% interest per annum. The policy comes with its own challenging but he is keen to help save the situation.

The Cocoa Awowa Policy seek to support those whourgently need financial support and as a result are willing to mortgage their cocoa farm(s) irrespective of the conditionalities. It is in the wake of this difficulty that the Cocoa Awowa Policy is being introduced. The Policy unlike the conventional cruel cocoa farm mortgage system, allows the farmer to operate his own farm to repay the loan at an affordable rate.

BACKGROUND

Asikuma Odoben Brakwa district is one of the seventeen districts in the central region of Ghana. Its capital is Breman Asikuma and their traditional supreme ruler is Odeefo Nana Amoakwa Buadu VIII and their district Chief Executive is Hon Isaac Odoom.The main occupation of the inhabitants in the district is farming with cocoa as the major cash crop. Research has shown that many inhabitants find it difficult to raise capital for projects and events when the need arises. This has resulted many of the inhabitants to raise funds through indigenous means called ‘Cocoa Awowa’ which has adversely affected the lives of the people both socially and economically.

Upon realizing this challenge and others, Hon Anthony Effah sees it prudent to introduce a social intervention policy with an umbrella name ‘Cocoa Awowa Policy’ to serve as a solution to the problem identified.

PURPOSE OF THE POLICY

i. To mitigate the rampant mortgaging of cocoa farm(cocoa Awowa) at a cheaper cost.

ii. To ensure timely interventions of the social needs ata cheaper rate to the   people.

iii. To enjoy the ownership of your cocoa farm as you repay the loan.

​SWOT ANALYSIS OF THE POLICY​

STRENGTH 

i. The Policy seeks to give out timely financial supportsto interested farmers at a relatively low interest to meet circumstances that led to it.

ii. It allows the farmer to manage their cocoa farms.

iii. This Policy seeks to reduce financial burden on parents with regards to financing projects and events.

iiii. It seeks to ensure equity in terms of loan accessment.

WEAKNESS

i. The possibility of bad debt.

ii. Time constraints.

iii. Limited funds.

OPPORTUNITY

It is open to all but people who qualify within Asikuma Odoben Brakwa will be able to access a timely financial assistance at flexibility terms and conditions

THREAT

Possibility of recovering all financial support given out is low due to the political background of the implementer of the policy.

LEGIBILITY

i. Applicant must own a registered cocoa farm andshould possess the documents of proof.  

ii. He/she must be willing and able to commit a percentage of the proceeds from the cocoa farm to the repayment schedules.

iii. Applicant must accept to either use the money for the payment of school fees, medical conditions, unexpected debts, funeral expenses etc.

iiii. The applicant must register with a buyer to whom all proceeds from the cocoa farm will be sold.

v. The applicant must possess at least two year oldpassbook from the said buyer.

REQUIREMENT TO ACCESS THE LOAN

i. Four passport size pictures.

ii. Photocopy of any valid national identification card.

iii. Photocopy of any utility bills for easy identification.

iiii. Must register with a buyer who has registered with the secretariat.

v. Must have a passbook records (showing at least three seasons of cocoa sales).

vi. The Abusuapayin and a chief or an opinion leader must be the guarantors.

vii. The purchasing clerk and the next-of-kin must be witnesses. 

viii. The next-of-kin must own a cocoa farm.

CONDITIONALITIES

i. Assessment of land ownership

ii. Amount to access is determined by the age of the cocoa farm and its affordability.

iii. Must be willing to repay the loan within two one year) to four (two years) cocoa seasons with 20%interest rate per annum.

iiii. Any of the stakeholders; Chiefs, purchasing clerks, assembly members, abusuapanyin must consent to the application before accessing the loan.

v. Must provide the next-of-kin who can repay the loan and their contacts

vi. Purpose of the loan must be spelt out.

MODE OF REPAYMENNT

I. Creation of Mobile Money Merchant outlet at the secretariat.

II. The purchasing clerk may deduct the agreed instalment amount and pay in into the Secretariat’s Mobile Money account.

III. The Secretariat will make provision for farmers who wish to pay in directly at the Secretariat.

IIII. The conventional mode of repayment of loan is seasonal or any other means the client deem fit within the season.

BUDGET

ITEMS​​​​  AMOUNT GHS                       AMOUNT GHS

Startup capital ​​​​​​​​​78,940.00​​

Stationary​​                ​2,000.00​                                       

Administrative   

Salaries                                 ​18,000.00

Utility bills                              ​240.00                                                                                                                                      

Fitting and fixtures

Building                               ​1,200.00

Computers and accessories​​3,000.00

Furniture                                      2,000.00

Interior decoration​​​500.00

Contingencies ​​​​2,000.00

               ​​​​28,940.00    

Loan facility amount                 50,000.00         ​​​78,940.00

LOAN FORM

Personal Information

     

Farmer’s Name:..................................................................................................    Age:………..

Town of Residence:…………………………     Location of Farm:…………………………….

Farm Size:…………………        Age of the Cocoa farm:………………………………………

Personal Contact:…………………………            Signature/Thumbprint:………………………

Date:…………………………..

                                      ​​ GUARANTORS

Name of Abusuapanyin:…………………….……………...……………..              Age:………….. 

Location:………………………………………………..          Contact…………………………..

Signature/Thumbprint:……………………………..                    Date:…………………………..

Next-of-kin:…………………………………………………….                   Age…………………

Town………………………............……….       Location of Farm………………………………

Signature/Thumbprint:……………………………..           Contact:………………………………

Date:……………………………..

Witnesses

Name of purchasing Clerk:……………………………………………………………………...

Name of company:………………………….        Location of company:………………………

Signature/Thumbprint:……………....................................        Contact:.……………………..

Date:…………………………….