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31.12.2007 Business & Finance

COCOBOD Honours Ex-CEOs

31.12.2007 LISTEN
By Daily Guide

THE GHANA COCOA Board has honoured its past Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) for their contribution toward the growth of the cocoa industry.

The awardees, who served as CEOs between 1973 and 2006, included Kwame Pianim, Flt. Lt. (rtd) Joe Atiemo, Colonel Takyi, Commander Kwabena Addo, J. H. Newman, Kwame Sarpong and Dr. Kwame Gyamfi. A 94-year-old ex-staff, Gilbert Ansah was also honoured.

Citations read for them recounted their contributions to the rise of cocoa production, instituting accountability in the administration of the board, improving the welfare of farmers and increasing sheanut production among others.

The wives of the CEOs also received their shares of the awards for supporting their husbands during their terms of office. Seven other CEOs were honoured posthumously.

The awards ceremony was held to climax COCOBOD's 60th anniversary which it celebrated this year with lots of activities including an essay competition programme for students at the basic, secondary and tertiary levels.

Winners of the easy competition were also given prizes for their excellent pieces on the cocoa industry in Ghana.

Irene Afua Fafa Awuku, a final year Bachelor of Economics student at the University of Cape Coast, took the ultimate award. Most of the award winners were ladies.

Dasebre Akuamoah Boateng II, Board Chairman of COCOBOD commended all the stakeholders of the cocoa industry including licensed buying companies.

He remarked that the year 2007 has been a busy one for the cocoa industry with the board undertaking many projects.

According to him, government has paid GH¢16.035 million as bonuses to cocoa farmers with each receiving GH¢1.71 for a bag of 64 kilos of cocoa or ¢27.45 per tonne.

Regarding unpaid bonuses, he promised that his outfit would clear them by July next year.

He stated that as part of the board's social responsibility, it presented 500 computers and 100 printers to some schools in the country.

Dasebre Akuamoah Boateng II pointed out that a new project, scheduled to take off soon, is the construction of an edifice at the Takoradi port to house the board in the Western Region.

He urged all stakeholders including the staff and management of COCOBOD to “enter the New Year with renewed commitment and devotion as a means of sustaining the gains made so far and as well promote the cocoa industry.”

The incumbent CEO, Isaac Osei was optimistic that with the measures put in place, cocoa production in the country will hit a billion tonnes by 2010.

“We have taken steps to mitigate the risk involved in loosing at every level; we are now ready to upscale production.”
By Emelia Ennin

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