Accra, Dec 20, - In 2018, the
Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) would continue to pay for the scholarship for
students in Senior High Schools (SHS) in the second and third years.
However, the scholarship would be
phased out when they complete their secondary education.
“This is because it is
anticipated that the Free Senior High School Programme would cater for the fees
of all beneficiaries, “Mr Kwame Asafu-Adjei, Chairman of the Parliamentary
Select Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs and MP for Nsuta
Kwamang Beposo has told Parliament.
Mr Asafu-Adjei made the
announcement when he read the Report of the Committee, seeking the approval of
GHC 598.62 million estimated budget for planned programmes and activities for
the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in 2018.
The Committee urged the COCOBOD
to be sure that all stakeholders were consulted and needs of beneficiaries were
catered for before the end of scholarship scheme.
On cocoa roads, the House was
informed that all cocoa roads projects had been put on hold because of an
ongoing audit to ensure value for money, as “within a period of three years,
road contracts went up to the tune of GH₵5.1
billion against a budget of GH₵1.6
billion.
The Chairman said the road
construction would continue after the audit, but the Committee urged the Board
to expedite action on the value for money audit to ensure continuation of the
road projects since most of the cocoa roads were currently in a deplorable
state.
Mr Asafu-Adjei told the House of
re-designation of the mass cocoa spraying programme, and explained that it was
meant to encourage private sector participation.
GNA
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