Second Ghana Cocoa Awards narrows shortlist down to 82 nominees

The finalists were drawn from a total of 155 entries filed by individuals, groups and organisations operating within the Ghana cocoa industry and are made up of 31 categories including Agro Input, Ecotourism, Research, Production, Internal Marketing, Cocoa Financing, Processing, Artisanal Value Addition, Innovation, Journalism, Sustainability and Leadership.

A number of individuals and organisations will also be accorded Special Recognition in leadership and COVID19 Humanitarian efforts, the organizers said.

Two nominations have also been received for the coveted Cocoa Personality of the Year honour that is currently held by the Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board, Honourable Joseph Boahen Aidoo, who is also this year’s guest of honour.

The 2nd annual awards will be chaired by former Member of the Council of State and Presidential Adviser, His Majesty Ehunabobrim Prah Agyensaim VI, King of Owirenkyi Traditional Area (Assin Kushea) in the Central Region. Yofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, has been named as guest speaker.

“We recognise by this initiative that it is the hard work and dedication of the Ghanaian cocoa farmer working in concert with the sector regulator – Ghana Cocoa Board – and industry that delivers the peerless world-acclaimed premium quality Ghana Cocoa, hence this initiative to recognise and honour outstanding achievements​,” a spokesperson said.

This year’s  theme for the awards is: ‘The Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – Prospects and Opportunities for Ghana’s Cocoa’ and as a curtain raiser, the Golden Pod Emporium, an upmarket ’pop-up’ mini-mart, will showcase an array of the finest Ghanaian and African cocoa products organised in partnership with Know Your Cocoa Foundation (KYCF) and the Cocoapreneurship Institute of Ghana (CIG).