PanAvest International, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ecobank and other key partners, have dialogued on cocoa’s critical role as a key commodity for the progress of the Ghana Beyond Aid agenda.
The dialogue took place at a historic summit held at Ecobank Head Office in Accra on June 8.
Industry players, private and public sector executives attended this first-ever sectorial-focused breakfast summit, which explored current Cocoa Industry trends, practices, opportunities and threats.
This fostered a healthy dialogue and debate on the industry’s long-term development and explored wealth creation aspirations for Ghanaians. Operating under the theme, “From Bean Producer to Major Chocolate Exporter: Moving Ghana Beyond Aid”, the Executive Insights Series Cocoa Supply Chain Summit was largely successful.
The Minister of Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, addressing the summit indicated that “As Ghana continues to pursue the realisation of a Ghana Beyond Aid, the road to enhanced industrialisation becomes even more critical.”
The Cocoa Industry, he said, has an important role to play especially if we begin to shift our export agenda from raw materials to value-added products"
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto also pointed out that the value that chocolate production has for local economic development, job creation and a movement Beyond Aid can be transformational for the nation.
Professor Douglas Boateng, the PanAvest International CEO and Supply Chain Management expert for industrialisation, spoke on the opportunities for long term indigenous value addition, governance, job and wealth creation in the Cocoa Industry.
Providing further insight on the subject matter, he said, “The Cocoa Industry has a long history in Ghana.
As a major export commodity, Ghana must explore ways to enhance the sustainability of this industry by harnessing the power of supply chain management practices. This is imperative if the country is to move away from being a pure bean producer towards becoming a renowned chocolate exporter”.
The Cocoa Supply Chain Summit brought together industry experts, high net worth individuals and influential persons and organizations hoping to maximise the opportunities that an improved supply chain practice will have on the Cocoa industry and Ghana as a whole. The free and by invitation only breakfast Summit was hosted by Ecobank, the Pan African Bank.Mr Dan Sackey, Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana, speaking at the event also indicated that “Ecobank is proud to partner with PanAvest International and to be associated with the Ministry of Agriculture at this unique Summit”.He concluded that the transformation of the Cocoa industry has widespread […]
