Olam Food Ingredients Ghana Limited (ofi), a Licenced Buying Company (LBC) in Ghana’s cocoa sector and one of the lead exporters of cashew in the industry, has commemorated this year’s UN International Day of Women & Girls in Science with students and farmers in its supply chain at Tepa in the Ashanti Region.
This year, a ceremony was held at Tepa Senior High School under the theme ‘Bringing Everyone Forward for Sustainable and Equitable Development’, to recognise the role of women and girls in science – not only as beneficiaries, but also as agents of change.
The event brought together about 500 participants, including farmers in ofi’s supplier network in Tepa; children of farmers pursuing courses and careers in science; science students from both Tepa and Maban Senior High Schools; selected managers within the business, as well as ofi’s female network group, GROW (Globally Reaching Olam Women).
The Country Head of ofi, Mr. Eric Asare Botwe said: “Currently, the female scientist population in ofi has grown tremendously. We have 14 female scientists working in our factory and over 40 female employees with science backgrounds in the sustainability business. I am optimistic that the numbers will increase not only in ofi but in all businesses spread across the county”.
He continued, “ofi encourages women scientists in our business to reach their full potential and find mentorship and growth opportunities both within and outside the company. Olam Cocoa Processing (OCP) has partnered with Kumasi Technical University and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to allow their students to have internship programmes with us and access the needed practice and training to theories they learn at school.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Augustina Sylverken, Senior Lecturer at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology said: “There is a need to harness all talent to tackle the challenges facing the country and global community. Currently, we are grappling with COVID-19, climate change – especially in the cocoa industry, and economic issues; and the full participation of women and girls in science, mathematics and technology is important.’
Other speakers at the event included Nana Amoateng Tuffour, Tepa Ankobeahene; Celestina Amoa- Menyah, ofi’s Regional Quality Head for Africa – who called for a shift in the teaching and learning of science; and Nana Adjeiwaa Paamu, Tepa Manhemaaa. They shared their experiences and encouraged participants to connect mentors with their children and students to find mentors in their areas of specialisations to help their aspirations in chosen science fields.
ofi gave all 200 participating students branded t-shirts, notepads, pens and sanitary pads.
