Cocobod Ask LBC's To Protect Interest Of Cocoa Farmers

Chief Executive Officer of Cocobod has urged cocoa buying company’s managers to ensure that farmers are protected whiling ending instances of cheating being reported in the media.

The call Joseph Boahen Aidoo said is for these managers who work for license produce buying companies to appreciate that the cocoa farmer is very important within the cocoa value chain and must be taken care off.

Mr. Aidoo who was the special guest of honour during this year’s Olam Cocoa Managers’ Conference which ended with a ceremony which was held at the department of economics auditorium at the University of Ghana, was reacting to reports of purchasing clerks having adjusted their scales to cheat farmers.

“Even though cocoa prices on the world market is down, the government has maintained the farmer’s price at the same level. But one thing that worries me is the fact that, is becoming very common to have adjusted scales all over the country by some purchasing clerks. Some of them adjust between the rages of 5 to 12 kilos.

"This situation I have seen myself during our field trips across the country. If you are a true Christian or Muslim and you treat a poor farmer like that, what does your conscience tell you? I think this must stop and you here can help us end that menace.”

The 2018 Olam Cocoa Managers’ conference was on the theme: The most Admired Business: Building Thriving Communities through Digitalization,” brought together managers from all the cocoa buying regions to strategise for the coming season and ensure that the managers were well-equipped for the cocoa business, and while educating them on current management decisions.

Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Olam Ghana Amit Agrawal, speaking during the closing ceremony of the conference said, Olam will remain a key partner to government in its efforts to improve the country’s socio-economic development.

The leading agri-commodity company and cocoa buying company’s boss pledged that Olam would continue to innovate and also make significant investments in the various farming communities where they operate.

He said in 2017/18 crop season alone, Olam paid more than GHC500million in both duty and Value Added Tax to the government, aside from other social investments it made in people and communities.

Head of Business Eric Asare Botwe, who also spoke at the conference announced that the company’s fortunes in terms of purchasing cocoa have been increasing steadily as the company in the 2017/18 crop season purchased 110,000 tonnes of cocoa beans out of a crop size of about 850,000 tonnes.

This represents 22 percent of Ghana’s total production target of 850,000 tons of cocoa each year, making the Olam the third largest Licensed Buying Company in the country.

In solidarity messages, the Produce Buying Company, the Licensed Cocoa Buyers Association of Ghana and the Cocoa Coffee Sheanut association, were full of praise for Olam Ghana Limited for following set standards for practitioners in the industry.

They also praised Olam’s contribution to national development through community involvement and development.

Story by Ghana|Myjoyonline.com | Norvan Acquah-Hayford | Joy Business