The Chief of Akyem Tafo in the Eastern Region, Osabarima Adusei Peasah II, has raised serious concerns about the employment practices of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), alleging discrimination against local youth in favor of outsiders.
During a recent visit by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who is also the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, Osabarima Adusei Peasah II voiced his grievances directly to the Vice President.
The chief claimed that in recent years, CRIG has increasingly hired individuals from outside Akyem Tafo through protocol arrangements, leaving many qualified local residents without job opportunities.
“The CRIG of today is not the institution we once knew. Now, when our youth apply for vacancies, they are overlooked in favor of people brought in from Accra. Things are not going well for us here,” the chief lamented.
He also expressed frustration over the slow progress of ongoing road construction projects in the town, which began in 2020, urging Dr. Bawumia to intervene and expedite their completion for the benefit of the community.
CRIG, a division of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), was originally established in June 1938 at Akyem Tafo as the Tafo Central Cocoa Research Station to address pest and disease challenges in cocoa production.
The station later became the West African Cocoa Research Institute (WACRI) in 1944, with sub-stations in Nigeria and Sierra Leone. After Ghana and Nigeria gained independence, the inter-territorial structure was dissolved in 1962, and the Ghanaian government took over, renaming it CRIG.
Over the years, CRIG’s research mandate has expanded to include other crops such as coffee, kola, sheanut, and cashew. Despite its significant contributions to agriculture, the chief’s allegations suggest that the institute’s employment practices may need to be re-evaluated to ensure fair opportunities for the local community.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
