The Wenchi Municipal Assembly has held meeting with cashew nuts and produce buying companies in the Municipality on formulation and implementation of cashew business operation guidelines.
The meeting formed part of stakeholder engagements on compliance with the guidelines to enhance local development. It was also to help revenue generation and mobilisation for the Assembly to achieve its revenue target for development.
On the other hand, the guidelines were also aimed at creating and protecting the business interests and enabling environment for companies operating in the area. This is to enhance job creation and job security for the people and creating a well regulated cashew operations. The guidelines would help boost cashew production and make cashew nuts and produce from Wenchi easily identifiable on the international market as it would be provided with a Waybill during transportation.
The Municipal Coordinating Director Douglas N.K Annoful who chaired the meeting, after explaining the guidelines, urged stakeholders to collaborate and cooperate with the Assembly for effective implementation and local development of the Municipality. He quickly added that the guidelines were subject to review as and when the need arose.
Representatives of the companies welcomed the guidelines but asked the Assembly to protect the market interest of the buying companies in Wenchi to make them sustainable so as to develop the local economy of Wenchi. The companies acknowledged that the guidelines would help create jobs in the area of drying, sorting, bagging, loading, records keeping, transporting, etc through the cashew value chain.
All cashew buying companies that wish to operate in the Municipality must establish operational station/warehouse in the Wenchi.
All new companies shall register with the Assembly for Business Operating Permits at a reviewed cost of GHC 2, 500 and renewable at GHC 1, 500.
The companies shall liase with GPRTU Cargo Local Branch for the transportation of cashew produce from Wenchi directly to Tema. In this regard, no other vehicle shall privately transport cashew without involving the transport unions.
The Municipal Assembly shall issue Waybill on all cashew produce being transported from Wenchi.
The Coordinating Director urged all stakeholders, particularly interested produce buying companies and operatives to strictly adhere to the guidelines to enhance development. Interested companies that wish to operate in Wenchi are warmly welcome.
Source: Information Services Department (ISD)
By: Stanick Sofel Amuzu Kpodo
