The Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Joseph Boahen Aidoo, has presented keys to a brand new motor cycle to Vincent Yeboah, a Community Extension Agent (CEA) responsible for Asankragwa District of the Western South Cocoa region at a short ceremony at Cocoa House in Accra for emerging as the 2017 National Best Community Extension Agent.
The motor cycle was awarded to Mr. Yeboah in recognition of his extremely hard work to advance the fortunes of the cocoa industry.
Mr Aidoo congratulated Mr. Yeboah for his good work.
“This motorbike should aid you in the discharge of your duties and serve as an encouragement for your other colleagues,” he said.
Mr. Yeboah oversees 18 cocoa farming communities comprising 900 farmers who have benefitted from Farmer Business School programmes and extension services.
He has also organized the farmers into various cooperative groups who are engaged in alternative livelihood programmes on aquaculture-fish farming, bee rearing and ginger cultivation.
As a means of ensuring good agronomic practices (GAPs), Mr. Yeboah created and trained two pruning gangs of five based at Yirase and Wassa Dunkwa who are currently helping farmers keep their farms in good condition.
Mr. Yeboah has influenced the work of a vast number of cocoa farmers using 16 Local Cocoa Facilitators (LCFs) within the catchment communities.
It was under his supervision that the 2016 Best District farmer, Kwadwo Daplah, 2017 Best District farmer, Nana Kwaku Nu and the 2017 Western South Regional Enterprising Cocoa Farmer, Kwame Amoah were all selected.
The Deputy Chief Executive In-Charge of Agronomy and Quality Control, Dr. Yaw Adu Ampomah, who was present at the function noted that if all CEAs work with such zeal as Mr. Yeboah, the cocoa industry will improve significantly.
Mr. Yeboah, 32, is a Principal Technical Assistant (Extension) who has worked with CHED for eight years in the Asankragwa District of the Western South Cocoa Region. He is married with two children and the proud winner of the maiden edition of the National Best Community Extension Agent award (2017).
Source: 3news.com|Ghana