Accra, Nov 30, GNA –
Cargill has announced a 13 million dollar investment in the expansion of its
cocoa processing site in Tema, Ghana to increase production capacity by 20 per
cent.
Cargill has also
committed 3.4 million dollars to Ghanaian community sustainability programmes
and cocoa traceability efforts in Ghana.
These programmes
will enhance the safety and wellbeing of children and families in cocoa farming
areas and provide a more transparent, traceable cocoa supply chain for
customers and consumers according to Cargill Chief Executive, David MacLennan.
A statement from
Cargil and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Monday said the announcement was
made by Mr MacLennan during a dinner hosted by the U.S Ambassador to Ghana,
Stephanie S. Sullivan in his honour as part of activities marking his
industrial visit to Ghana, in which the Vice President. Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu
Bawumia was the Special Guest at the dinner.
The statement said
Mr MacLennan’s industrial visit with a team of top executives was to afford
Cargill the opportunity to deepen its relationship with the Ghanaian government
and stakeholders of the cocoa industry.
It said the
itinerary of his visit comprised a tour of the Cargill cocoa processing site
where Mr MacLennan laid the first stone to symbolize the expansion works and
the Akodzo Basic School in Tema, one of the educational projects under the
Cargill Cocoa Promise, the company’s corporate commitment to improve the
livelihoods in communities where they operate.
The statement said
the Managing Director of Cargill’s cocoa and chocolate business in Ghana, Mr
Aedo van der Weij said the company wants to meet customer demand and
continuously work with Ghana to create economic opportunities and build
sustainable local businesses.
The statement said:
“The 13 million dollar investment to expand Cargill’s cocoa processing site in
Tema will create many indirect jobs, from labourers to university-educated positions.
Building on the
success of the ‘Good of taste of Ghana’ when we started producing cocoa powders
in the country in 2008, the expansion of Tema is needed to meet customer demand
for high value cocoa powders.
Working directly
with the Ghanaian government and other key stakeholders, we are committed to
economic growth, building sustainable local businesses and diversifying sources
of income for those who live here,” it added.
The statement said
in addition to the site investment, Cargill would invest 3.4 million dollar
over the next three years in Ghanaian community projects and supply chain
traceability, with a focus on creating stronger, more resilient cocoa farming
communities.
These projects, it
said were part of the Cargill Cocoa Promise the company’s corporate commitment
to improving the lives of cocoa farmers and their communities and would involve
partnership with CARE to strengthen community governance and improve nutrition
in cocoa growing communities.
It will also involve
the building of six new schools as well as the implementation of a Child Labor
Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS) with the International Cocoa
Initiative (ICI) to include 8,000 farmers and their families.
The statement said
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia commended the Company for the initiatives as
this was in line with government’s agenda for the economy.
“This is exactly
what we are looking for with our economic program; to have more private sector
players expand industrialization efforts and create jobs for our youth” Dr
Bawumia said.
“Cargill says
it is committed to delivering secure, sustainable and innovative cocoa and
chocolate products.
In Ghana, where
Cargill has already achieved 100 percent traceability in its supply chain from
farm to factory using high-end technologies, the company will continue to
invest in GPS polygon mapping of new farms that have recently joined the
Cargill Cocoa Promise programme and are delivering cocoa through its Licensed
Buying Company-Cargill Kokoo Sourcing Ltd.” the statement noted.
GNA
