SCARCITY OF COCOA BEANS HAMPERING PRODUCTION…..PLOT ENTERPRISE GHANA LIMITED LAMENTS

The shortage of cocoa beans in the Ghanaian market to satisfy cocoa processing companies is affecting their production. Currently, the demand for cocoa beans for processing into finished and semi-finished products by cocoa processing companies is exceeding supply, according to one of the industry players, Plot Enterprise Ghana Limited. The company, reeling under this challenge made known their predicaments when Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson, visited the factory at Eshiem in Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis. The visit carried out by the Minister formed part of his familiarization tour of institutions in the region upon assumption of office.

At Plot Enterprise Ghana Limited, the management made known to the Minister the facts about the cocoa industry. Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, they noted, is not able to handle the cocoa industry with an adequate supply of cocoa beans for improved production. According to the management, the country is currently facing a shortage of cocoa beans due to various challenges.

The country’s cocoa output for the 2023/24 season is expected to be almost 40% below its target of 820,000 metric tons, according to figures obtained.

  • This shortage is attributed to several factors including diseases such as swollen shoot virus and black pod which have all affected over 80,000 hectares of cocoa farms in the country, therefore cutting down yields by up to 50% in some areas.
  • The issue of climate change, experts have indicated has also led to poor weather conditions, further impacting cocoa production in popular cocoa-growing communities in Ghana.
  • Aside from that, deforestation and illegal mining activities have also been blamed for contributing to the decline in cocoa production according to industry optics
  • Many cocoa farmers in Ghana are also aging, and the younger generation is not interested in taking over cocoa farming as a business, a known fact disturbing the industry.
  • The low prices being offered or set aside by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) often irritates farmers who would rather smuggle their cocoa beans into neighbouring French West African countries to sell, therefore making it difficult for farmers in Ghana who sell their produce here to make a profit per the account of affected cocoa farmers.

These challenges, mentioned above, have resulted in a significant decline in cocoa production, leading to the shortage of cocoa beans in Ghana. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Ghana’s cocoa industry is heavily reliant on exports, with over 80% of its cocoa beans being shipped abroad in its raw form.

Consequently, Plot Enterprise Ghana Limited, one of the cocoa processing factories operating in Ghana, located at Eshiem, in Sekondi Takoradi Metropolis, has appealed to the government to adopt pragmatic measures required to make available cocoa beans for cocoa processing companies to stay in business. Currently, part of the production lines of the company has been shut down following the shortage of cocoa beans which has hit the Ghanaian market.

Alfred Ampah, Plant Manager of Plot Enterprise Ghana Limited, who briefed the Western Regional Minister about this challenge, considered it an unfortunate development, and said the government ought to do something about the shortage of cocoa beans in the country.

The General Manager of the company, Michael Arhin Darlington, also expressed disquiet about the unfortunate development while appealing to the Minister to intervene in resolving the long-standing industry challenge hampering operations and production of cocoa processing factories.

In response, the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, said the sector minister would work assiduously with stakeholders to address the problem. He also assured the company of his commitment to collaborate effectively with stakeholders to fix the deplorable state of the road linking the factory to other companies and adjoining communities. With an improved supply of cocoa beans, the company, the Minister hopes, could expand its operations and ultimately create more jobs for unemployed Ghanaians.

By Ebenezer Atiemo

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Western Regional Co-ordinating Council

Western Regional Co-ordinating Council

The Hon. Regional Minister is pro-business, believes in sustainable development and is a lead advocate for the oil and gas local content in the parliament of Ghana. He is an experienced politician and business development advocate.

The Hon. Regional Minister as a student of Mfantsipim School, he produced the first science magazine of the school in 1993.

He holds a BSc(Hons) Biochemistry degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of
Science and Technology(Ghana) and a Master of Arts degree in Democracy,
Governance, Law and Development from the University of Cape Coast(Ghana). In
2014 he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree (DL Honoris Causa) by AIUCC,
Missouri USA.

Joining Parliament in 2009 till date he has served on many Parliamentary Committees and
delegations including Foreign Affairs, Roads and Transport, Education and Subsidiary
Legislation Committee that developed the current local content law, LI 2204. Hon. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah became a member of the 2016 New Patriotic Party Manifesto Committee on Energy and a member of the 2017
Government Transition Team on Energy.

He founded the IT Company, e-Base Africa Ltd with his elder brother and became the Managing Director in 2001. His leadership introduced broadband internet in the Western Region and KNUST Kumasi.

For his commitment and pragmatic leadership ethics, he still serves on the Boards of
Raybow International Hotel, ORPED International, Western Regional Coastal
Foundation (an Oil & Gas not-for-profit), Citizen Advisory Council and Students in
Free Enterprise of Takoradi Technical University.

His vision is to make the Western Region a model one hinged on three main pillars of:
i. Entrepreneurial Governance System,
ii. Enterprising Western Region, and
iii. working to achieve the thematic areas of the Sustainable Development Goals mainstreaming and empowering the Youth
He recently received the award of the most outstanding business leader of the year – Public Sector at the prestigious Ghana Business Standard awards 2019 and the Pan African Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development Centre in partnership with Dynasty Group – Qatar presented by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Prime Minister of the State of Qatar.

She was the Member of Parliament for Tarkwa Nsuaem constituency from 2001 to 2016 for 4 terms. Whilst in Parliament, she became a Parliamentary Leader for 12 years as a Deputy Chief Majority and Minority Whips.

On issues of women empowerment, Mrs. Gifty Kusi has had a lot of training and experiences. She was the Chairperson of the Women’s Caucus in the Parliament of Ghana and the Convener of Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians for Africa and the Africa Representative to the international Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians to conferences.

As a member of the Gender and Children Committee, she became the Ranking Member for the committee from 2012 to 2016.

She also attended the West African workshop on Women in Politics in Sierra Leone organized by Gender and Youth Division, Commonwealth Secretariat in London

Her training also took her to the United Nations Sessions of the Committee for the Status on Women (CSW) on three occasions at the New York Headquarters in New York, USA. She also attended the Committee On Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Conference in Geneva UN Office to defend the status of Ghanaian women.

She attended the session to defend the Child Rights of the Ghanaian Children in Geneva with the Minister of Gender and Children on two occasions.

She attended a 3-Month Internship Programme, at the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Rights and African Women Leadership course in Amsterdam, The Netherlands in 1999.

She served on the Committee on the Drafting of Affirmation Action Bill presently before Cabinet and also attended the session on African Commission On Human Rights and Peoples’ Rights held at the Gambia

She also attended a workshop to Review Laws on Female Genital Mutilation and to Advocate for Law Reform and on Early Childhood care and Development sponsored by Ghana Association of Women’s Welfare and the Ministry of Gender and Children all in Accra

She is a women activist who has presented papers at various conferences on energy, mining and women issues. She also served for 12 years on the Health Committee as a Vice Chairperson and as a member. She attended many conferences on health and the World Health Assembly by the WHO in 2014.

Mr. Ataogye is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Administrators and Management Consultants Ghana (2018); a Chartered Professional Administrator (ChPA) and a Chartered Management Consultant (CMC).

He was appointed into the Ghana Civil Service (and later the Local Government Service) in May 1990 and has been responsible for the management of the Assemblies’ and the RCC’s Human, Material and Financial Resources; superintending their operations/management, planning co-ordination, resource mobilization as well as service delivery and project implementation.

 

Mr. Ataogye has a: “let’s fix it” attitude – a true problem solver. He demonstrates strategic and transformational leadership. He is an experienced Administrator / Co-ordinating Director of high repute and is very affable with effective communication and negotiation skills.

 

Mr. Ataogye, as a student of Nandom Secondary School (1980-1982) and Notre Dame Seminary Secondary School, Navrongo (1975-1980) held the post of House Prefect in both schools.

 

He holds a BSc(Hons) Administration (Management) from the University of Ghana, Legon and a Master of Governance and Leadership (MGL) from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). He also has to his credit, certificates from GIMPA for the Chief Executive Programme, Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration and Post Graduate Certificate in Public Administration.

 

National Service Assignment

Mr. Michael B. Ataogye fulfilled his National Service obligations at the Navrongo Secondary School (1983/84), where he taught French and Economics and later in 1989 at the Asutifi South District assembly, Kenyasi in the Brong Ahafo Region.

 

Awards

In 2005, he was awarded the Best Senior Staff for Good Human Relations, Staff Motivation and Initiative; and for Leadership provided for the Landscaping and Beautification of the Asante Akim South District Assembly Grounds at Juaso.

 

He was commended by the Head of Civil Service for Good 2004 Annual Administrative Performance and Reporting (Asante Akim South District Assembly, Juaso).

 

He was also commended by the Civil Service Council for Excellent Performance in the Execution of the 1999 Performance Agreement of District Co-ordinating Directors (Aowin Suaman District Assembly, Enchi).

 

Additional Assignment

Mr. Ataogye served as a member of the Management/ Governing Board of Kumasi Rattray Park (June 2015-December 2016) and a member of the Governing Board of Prempeh College, Kumasi (Feb 2015-Feb 2019).

 

For his commitment, innovative and pragmatic leadership as well as ethical conduct, he served on the Boards of the following institutions;

 

He was the Chairman for the Social Committee on the Resettlement of Atuabo Community near Tarkwa (1996-1997) and Chairman for Ejura-Sekyedumase Mutual Health Insurance Scheme (Jan,2009-Nov,2019).

 

Training/Career Development Courses and Seminars attended

Among the several training courses, seminars and workshops attended are the following:

 

Thesis and Dissertations presented

Mr. Michael B. Ataogye researched and worked on the following topics;