Thirty-seven institutions including some notable personalities have been honoured for their contribution to the development and progress of the cocoa sector at this year’s Ghana Cocoa Awards in Accra.
The event, hosted by Cocoa Post, was on the theme, ‘Celebrating Ghana’s Historic Cocoa Production Milestone – A Golden Opportunity for the Local Value Addition Agenda’.
Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, who was special guest of honour at the event, said it was heartwarming to see an array of stakeholders in the cocoa value chain for the recognition with a common interest.
“I congratulate the organizer of the awards scheme for given us the opportunity – individuals and corporate bodies with common interest in this outstanding crop (cocoa) which has its footprints in every area if our lives” he said.
All award winners and some dignitaries at the 3rd Ghana Cocoa Awards
He underscored the need for recognition of cocoa farmers, farmer groups and cooperatives, Licensed Buying Companies, hauliers, agro-inputs and logistics as well as the board, staff and management of COCOBOD for achieving a record production of over one million tonnes in the just ended 2020/2021 season, despite the effects of COVID-19.
Mr Boahen Aidoo said the recent production achievement must set the tone for a new cocoa story for Ghana, adding, “entrepreneurs and investors should leverage the enabling environment created by government to develop a new generation of cocoa billionaires and ‘cocoapreneurs’ in Ghana”.
Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare who was guest of honour, touts the gains of the cocoa sector which has brought some sustainable solutions to stakeholders.
“Through a historic joint-effort by the President, Nana Akufo-Addo and his Ivorian counterpart, the sector has succeeded in achieving a Living Income Differential of US$400 per tonne for farmers, which is a major leap in the producer price of cocoa.
She assured of government’s continuous effort in ensuring that the welfare of all cocoa farmers become sustainably paramount.
Executive Director of Cocoa Post, organisers of the awards, Kojo Hayford, said the 2021 edition of Ghana Cocoa Awards was to cast the limelight of national appreciation on heroes behind production of cocoa in Ghana. He said, there could be no better way of recognising these amazing Cocoa men and women than creating the platform for them to tell their stories individually and collectively while, celebrating their hard work in the industry.
Award winners
Various institutions and personalities who were honoured, include, Adansi Sweet Company – Artisanal Chocolate Company of the Year; Golden Pod Chocolate Drink – Beverage of the Year; Child Rights International – Change Agent of the Year; Ela Kuekey Austine – Consumption Promotion Ambassador of the Year; Golden Pod Cocoa – Consumption Promotion Campaign of the Year; Decokraft Limited – Chocolate Brand of the Year (Artisanal); Niche Chocolate – Chocolate Brand of the Year (Conventional); Plot Ghana – Emerging Processing Company of the Year; Bia West Cooperative Cocoa Farmers – Farmer Cooperative of the Year; CJ Commodities – Emerging LCB of the Year.
Others are, Yayra Glover Limited – Organic Cocoa Markerter of the Year; Koa Impact Ghana Ltd – Technology for Cocoa Value Chain; Niche Chocolate – Brand of the Year; Agricultural Development Bank – Financing Institution of the Year; CHOCOMAC Ghana – Company of the Year; Eco Index Agro Solutions – Entrepreneur of the Year; Kiteko Ghana Ltd – Haulage Company of the Year; Delfi Ventures Chocolate – Innovation of the Year; Akua Oforiwa Darko – Journalist of the Year GBC; AMP Logistics – Logistics Company of the Year; Fairafric Ghana Ltd – Outstanding Contribution of the Year; Niche Cocoa Industry – Processing Company of the Year; Glico General – Insurance Company of the Year; Mediterranean Shipping Company – Shipping Line of the Year; Fairafric Ghana- Value Addition Company of the Year; Cocoa Life Ghana – Sustainability Programme of the Year; Federated Commodities Ghana – LBC of the Year (Indigenous).
The rest are, ECOM Ghana – LBC of the Year (Sustainable Cocoa); Touton Ghana – Sustainability Initiative of the Year; Nana Kwasi Ponkoh II – National Best Cocoa Farmer 2020; Charity Naa Anima Sackitey – Woman of Excellence Award; Joseph Boahen Aidoo – Lifetime Achievement Award; Olam Cocoa Ghana – Overall Best LCB of the Year; Vincent Okyere Akomeah – Marketing Person of the Year; Yaa Peprah Amekudzi (Cocoa Life Ghana) – Sustainability Personality of the Year; Nicholas Kumah (ELIHO Gh) – Business Leader of the Year; and Edmund Agyapong Poku – Cocoa Personality of the Year.
