Residents of Ampayo, a cocoa-farming community in the Akan district of the Oti Region, have raised concerns over their living conditions and the lack of support from the Government. Despite being a key player in Ghana’s cocoa industry, the community struggles to make ends meet they are calling for urgent attention from the government to address their needs.
Cocoa farming is the main source of income for the Residents of Ampayo. However, they are faced with several challenges making it difficult for them to earn a decent living. Poor road networks make it difficult to transport their produce to the market, while the lack of electricity limits their access to modern farming techniques that could improve their yields.
In addition to these challenges, the community is also facing lack of investment in education and job opportunities for the youth. The community’s only school, which serves over 200 students, is in a deplorable condition, with inadequate classrooms and insufficient teaching materials. This has led to poor academic performance and low morale among teachers.
According to the Residents, the lack of job opportunities for the youth is a major concern, and many of them have resorted to migrating to urban areas in search of employment. This has resulted in a decline in the community’s productivity, as the remaining workforce is largely made up of elderly people who are unable to engage in labour-intensive farming activities.
The Government’s failure to provide adequate support to the community has left many residents hungry and struggling to survive. Despite being a cocoa-producing community, they do not have access to basic amenities such as clean water, healthcare, and sanitation facilities.
“We are calling on the government to come to our aid and provide the necessary support to improve our living conditions, we need better roads, access to electricity, and more job opportunities for the youth. Our community is suffering, and we need urgent attention from the government to address our needs’’. They added
The Residents of Ampayo are not alone in their struggle as many farming communities in the country face similar challenges, despite their significant contribution to the country’s economy. As the Government continues to prioritize agriculture as a key sector for economic growth and development, it is important that it addresses the needs of these communities to ensure that they are not left behind.
BY:AGRIWATCH REPORTER
