ONE MILLION TONNES TARGET ACHIEVABLE...Says COCOBOD Chief Executive (BACK PAGE, FEB 26, 2010)

THE CHIEF Executive of COCOBOD, Mr Tony Fofie, has given the assurance that the one-million tonne target for Ghana’s cocoa production in 2012 would definitely be achieved.
This, he said, was due to the many interventions COCOBOD had put in place such as infrastructural development and logistic support for Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), to intensify its research into cocoa and also to guide cocoa farmers on cocoa production.
He, therefore, asked workers of CRIG to live up to expectation to achieve the production target.
This was contained in a speech read at CRIG’s 2009 Best Worker award ceremony at New Tafo on behalf of the CEO by Mr Dramani Egala, Deputy Chief Executive of COCOBOD in charge of Operations.
About 20 workers who performed creditably last year received television sets as prizes, with the overall best worker award going to Mr Anim Danso, a driver of the General Services Division of CRIG, who had served for 30 years. He took home a deep freezer as his prize.
Mr Fofie said COCOBOD had been making systematic and progressive efforts, including contracting external loans, to move cocoa production to a much higher level for the betterment of all stakeholders, including CRIG’s workers.
He said the improvement in the fortunes of the cocoa industry could only be possible if the workers worked hard to make it possible for the repayment of the loans, which would also ensure their betterment.
He congratulated the award winners and called on the entire staff of CRIG to work with dedication and in unity to face the challenges ahead.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo, the Eastern Regional Minister, commended CRIG for instituting the award scheme for its workers, since that would motivate them to put in their best.
He said the Regional Co-ordinating Council was making frantic efforts to promote tourism in the region and said it was gratifying that CRIG had taken steps to process cocoa and its by-products and urged COCOBOD to invite private participation in that respect for mass production for both home consumption and export.