GHANA— Chris Wulf-Caesar is making a return to Unilever Ghana to succeed Mr. George Owusu-Ansah as Chief Executive Officer. Chris’s appointment represents a significant milestone for Unilever Ghana, emphasizing the company’s commitment to nurturing talent and driving sustainable growth. His return to Unilever Ghana follows a distinguished career spanning various sectors within Africa’s consumer goods industry – He started as a Unilever management trainee, where he spent two years working in every department including packing soap on the factory floor and cultivating the plantations, before tr ..read more

AFRICA—In a dire turn of events for the global cocoa industry, major cocoa processing plants in Ivory Coast and Ghana have halted or reduced operations due to financial constraints in acquiring cocoa beans, potentially catapulting chocolate prices worldwide to unprecedented heights.  This revelation comes amidst a backdrop of successive years of diminished cocoa harvests in these two leading cocoa-producing nations. Worse still, prospects show that there will be yet another disappointing harvest looming on the horizon.  Transcao, an Ivorian state-controlled cocoa bean processor, has ..read more

GHANA – In an effort to enhance awareness and appreciation for cocoa products, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has inaugurated a shop in Sunyani, strategically located at the Cocoa House building.   The move coincides with the start of this year’s chocolate week celebration, aiming to promote the nutritional values and versatility of cocoa among consumers.  According to Frank Asante, Director of Production at CPC, Tema, CPC inaugurated in 1965 initially produced only three products – bar chocolate, pebbles, and milk beads. Over the years, CPC has expanded its range of products to in ..read more

GHANA – Ghana has lost over 500,000 hectares of cocoa farms to Cocoa Swollen Shoot Viral Disease (CSSVD) according to the Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Joseph Boahen Aidoo, posing a major threat to the country’s cocoa production.  CSSVD is one of the most devastating diseases on cacao and causes significant production losses and death of cacao trees. CSSVD is caused by a badnavirus within the family Caulimoviridae.  Symptoms of infected cacao plants include red vein-banding in young leaves which may be followed by vein clearing or chlorosis along the veins.  W ..read more

GHANA – Ghanian Bono Regional Director of the Fisheries Commission, Mr. Hanson Kodzo Dzamefe Jnr, has advised graduates to explore job opportunities in fish marketing, citing it as a lucrative business that could fill crucial gaps in the fishing industry’s value chain. According to Mr. Dzamefe Jnr, the limited number of individuals involved in fish marketing and processing creates a challenge for fish farmers after harvesting, as they often lack the marketing skills to reach consumers. He emphasized the importance of recognizing marketing in production processes and suggested the inclusion of ..read more

GHANA – Former Ghana President John Agyekum Kufuor has rallied support behind Coffee Incubator Program aimed at enhancing coffee production and job creation along the Akuapem Ridge, Ghana.  Kufuor expressed his endorsement during the launch of a pilot coffee incubator program in Akropong, Eastern Region. The initiative, outlined in a project brief, aims to de-risk coffee cultivation, reduce entry barriers for the youth, and promote large-scale production for export.  The project is led by Asili Coffee Purveyors Limited, with support from the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), GIZ, Interna ..read more

GHANA – In a plea on behalf of the fish farming community, Mrs. Lydia Gyebi Asare, acclaimed as the Eastern Regional Best Fish Farmer and CEO of YaaMansah Farms, is urging the Ghanaian government to impose a ban on fish importation. Mrs. Asare highlighted the adverse impact of importing large metric tons of fish, particularly affecting catfish farmers and jeopardizing the livelihoods of many in the sector. During an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mrs. Asare underscored the financial strain experienced by fish farmers due to the massive influx of imported fish. She emphasized the ..read more

GHANA – Ghana and Norway have joined forces to enhance the development of on-farm fish feed using locally available ingredients, as part of Ghana’s ambitious Aquaculture Development Plan. The plan aims to increase the country’s fish farming output from 89,376 tonnes to 211,697 tonnes by the end of 2028, representing a remarkable 136% growth. Mrs. Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, unveiled the vision during the 39th National Farmers’ Day Celebration in Tarkwa, Western Region. The plan emphasized the availability of high-quality, affordable feed to all fish ..read more

COTE D’IVOIRE – Ghana’s minister of food and agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, has been elected as chairman of the Cote d’Ivoire – Ghana Cocoa Initiative during the 5th steering committee meeting in Abidjan.  Acheampong, who also serves as the member of parliament Abetifi constituency, Ghana, is set to replace Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani who initially held the position.  The CIGCI was formed collaboratively between Ghana president, Nana Akufo-Addo and Ivorian president Alassane Outtara, to exert pressure on international cocoa buyers and trade houses to establish a minimum floor pri ..read more

GHANA – Ghana’s Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, has expressed confidence in the nation’s ability to achieve food self-sufficiency by the year 2024, attributing this optimism to strategic measures already implemented by the government. This came after the minister visited the Agrifest exhibition, a five-day showcase of agriculture and food innovations, where he commended Ghanaians for their commitment to supporting the government’s agenda for food sufficiency. Minister Ofori Atta outlined the government’s focus on boosting the agricultural sector’s growth from 6.3% in the previous year wi ..read more