He therefore advised such cocoa purchasing clerks to change their ways before the long arm of the law catches up with them.

The minister said the government is committed to cater for the welfare of the Ghanaian cocoa farmer and will ensure that farmers get good prices for their produce.

At a press briefing on the 68th General Assembly And Council Of Ministers Meetings Of The Cocoa Producers' Alliance, (COPAL) the minister stated that Government would continue to implement the policies that have been introduced which are yielding tremendous results.

He mentioned that cocoa input in the country has increased almost two fold since the 2000/01 Crop Season following the adoption of the policy initiatives embarked on by the NPP government.

Mr.Agyeman Manu mentioned that the 2003/04 cocoa output of 736,000mt has been described as remarkable.

Again, producer prices have increased nearly three fold since 2001.This according to the minister has ensured that cocoa farmers are paid decent prices.

According to him, the government has also had a fair share of the advantages cropping out of the cocoa industry as a result of these achievements in the areas of increased foreign exchange, export and local duty.

The minister mentioned that cocoa is a total health food especially when it comes to the heart and blood vessels.

This year's COPAL meeting would be held from the 1st to 8th October, 2005 at the Accra International Conference Center in Accra.

COPAL is an intergovernmental organization established in January 1962 by representatives of the Government of five cocoa producing countries, Ghana, Nigeria, Brazil, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon in the city of Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

The Abidjan Charter guides member countries of COPAL and has its headquarters located in Logos, Nigeria.

On 1st October, COPAL will celebrate the COPAL Cocoa Day to promote the consumption of cocoa in the producing countries and to highlight the importance of cocoa.