COCOBOD HONOURS BEST COCOA FARMERS WITH UK TRIP

Date: 19th June 2024

Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has sponsored 12 award-winning cocoa farmers on an educational tour of the United Kingdom, a key trading destination for Ghana's premium cocoa.

The farmers, who distinguished themselves as the national best cocoa farmers from 2019 to 2023, spent their nine-day visit touring factories of major cocoa buyers and chocolate manufacturers in the UK. This visit aims to provide first-hand insights into the operations of these companies.

The leader of the delegation, who also serves as the Head of Public Affairs at COCOBOD, Mr Fiifi Boafo, addressed the farmers at their first port of call and stated that the visit is part of the Board’s incentive packages to recognize the contributions of farmers and expose them to new approaches for their cocoa business.

Mr Boafo further disclosed that the annual event was necessary to allow for policy reforms to ensure that farmers benefit fully from the sponsorship.

Welcoming the delegation to the UK, the Manager in charge of the Cocoa Marketing Company (UK) Limited (CMC), Mr Fuad Abubakar, mentioned that the UK office of CMCwas established in the1960s to serve as a hub for cocoa price determination and to play other liaison roles between COCOBOD and its trade partners. 

According to Mr Abubakar, the office has continuously facilitated all preparatory processes and follow-up activities for the annual Cocoa Syndicated Loan Facility.

He urged the farmers to embrace the various Productivity Enhancement Programmes (PEPs) introduced by COCOBOD and called on them to offer their maximum cooperation and support for the full implementation of other initiatives, including the farmers' pension scheme.

The farmers paid a courtesy call on the Ghana High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and visited the Mars Chocolate Factory, the largest chocolate manufacturing company in the world, as well as, Cadbury World.