7 Arrested for diverting agro-chemicals

Seven people, including three workers of the Cocoa Health Extension Division (CHED) of  the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and a driver of the Produce Buying Company (PBC), have been put before the Kumasi Circuit Court, accused of diverting chemicals meant for free distribution to farmers in the Ahafo Ano South District in the Ashanti Region.

The accused persons allegedly sold the chemicals to chemical dealers in Kumasi and Konongo, who in turn sold them to the public.

The workers, including the District Manager of the CHED, Joseph Kwabena Donkor; storekeeper, Patrick Wiredu, front desk officer, Isaac Armah Aggudey, and the driver of the PBC, Percy Appiah Korang, are alleged to have diverted the chemicals worth GHc130,000, for sale on the market.

The chemicals diverted included Confidor and Metacid.

While Donkor, Wiredu, Agudey and Korang have been remanded in prison custody by the Kumasi Circuit Court, presided over by Mr William Boampong, their accomplices, including the Ahafo Ano South Chief Cocoa Farmer, Nana Aframu, and two chemical dealers, Elvis Owusu and Maxwell Anafi, have been granted bail in the sum of GH¢50,000 each, with one surety.

The workers were charged with conspiracy to steal and stealing and their accomplices were charged with dishonestly receiving.

They all have pleaded not guilty to the charges,  and the case has been adjourned to October 14.

Presenting the facts of the case, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Akonnor told the court that on September 27, this year, the Ahafo Ano South District of the CHED was supplied with various quantities of assorted chemicals for free distribution to cocoa farmers to improve on crop yields in the district.