Briefing Meeting on Cocoa Study with Selected Stakeholders in the Cocoa Sector
The ILO “Strengthen” project organized a half day Briefing Meeting on Cocoa Study with Selected Stakeholder in the Cocoa Sector. The main goal of meeting was to share findings of the study and also to demystify the concerns around cocoa.
Participants Included Representatives of COCOBOD, Asarco Cacao Processing Co Ltd, Niche Cocoa Industry Ltd, BD Associates Ghana Ltd, Plot Enterprise Ghana Ltd, Top Creativity Industry Ltd, Life-Star Cocoa Processing Company Ltd, the National Consultant for the Study and the Policy Working Group. Also present was the Minister designate for Ministry of Employment and labour Relations, Hon Ignatius Baafour Awuah and Mr Ebo Quayson the Director of Export and Trade Services who represented the Minister at the meeting. Key ministries represented at the meeting include Ministries of Employment and Labour Relations, Trade and Industry; Food and Agriculture; the Ghana Statistical Service and representatives of the private sector.
Also present was the Mr Maikel-Lieuw-Kie-Song, the project manager of Component A of the project, which deals with Employment Impact Assessment who indicated that there is the need to understand policies in trade agreements and trade policies. This is the main background of the study in this sector and their relation or role in job creation. The case studies were made with two processing companies; Niche Cocoa Industry Limited and BD Associates Ghana Limited. The findings of the study indicate the quantum and quality of jobs created with good and appreciable salary scales. This implies that the study went beyond processing to see the quality of the jobs created.
Dr Bernardin Senadza, National Consultant, University of Ghana gave a detailed first presentation on the scope, methodology and findings of the study. This was followed by a Q & A session.
Mr Maikel-Lieuw-Kie-Song did the second Presentation, which was on the challenges the cocoa sector faces on the macro scale in terms of production and processing. Investment simulations were also made in the presentation indicating jobs created and what kind of jobs are created. Findings of the study revealed that more jobs were created on the farm or production side other than the processing side indicating that cocoa farming is not an area appreciated by many. Thus jobs created are not valuable. This was also followed by a Q & A session.
At the end of the meeting the next steps discussed were:
o Need to get better information on the number of cocoa farmers and suppliers.
o Follow up with COCOBOD and other related agencies for information on cocoa farmers and suppliers. o Need to create more jobs in the sector though on average there are better jobs in the sector.
o Need to decide when to share the final report of results of the study.
Participants Included Representatives of COCOBOD, Asarco Cacao Processing Co Ltd, Niche Cocoa Industry Ltd, BD Associates Ghana Ltd, Plot Enterprise Ghana Ltd, Top Creativity Industry Ltd, Life-Star Cocoa Processing Company Ltd, the National Consultant for the Study and the Policy Working Group. Also present was the Minister designate for Ministry of Employment and labour Relations, Hon Ignatius Baafour Awuah and Mr Ebo Quayson the Director of Export and Trade Services who represented the Minister at the meeting. Key ministries represented at the meeting include Ministries of Employment and Labour Relations, Trade and Industry; Food and Agriculture; the Ghana Statistical Service and representatives of the private sector.
Also present was the Mr Maikel-Lieuw-Kie-Song, the project manager of Component A of the project, which deals with Employment Impact Assessment who indicated that there is the need to understand policies in trade agreements and trade policies. This is the main background of the study in this sector and their relation or role in job creation. The case studies were made with two processing companies; Niche Cocoa Industry Limited and BD Associates Ghana Limited. The findings of the study indicate the quantum and quality of jobs created with good and appreciable salary scales. This implies that the study went beyond processing to see the quality of the jobs created.
Dr Bernardin Senadza, National Consultant, University of Ghana gave a detailed first presentation on the scope, methodology and findings of the study. This was followed by a Q & A session.
Mr Maikel-Lieuw-Kie-Song did the second Presentation, which was on the challenges the cocoa sector faces on the macro scale in terms of production and processing. Investment simulations were also made in the presentation indicating jobs created and what kind of jobs are created. Findings of the study revealed that more jobs were created on the farm or production side other than the processing side indicating that cocoa farming is not an area appreciated by many. Thus jobs created are not valuable. This was also followed by a Q & A session.
At the end of the meeting the next steps discussed were:
o Need to get better information on the number of cocoa farmers and suppliers.
o Follow up with COCOBOD and other related agencies for information on cocoa farmers and suppliers. o Need to create more jobs in the sector though on average there are better jobs in the sector.
o Need to decide when to share the final report of results of the study.