The maiden Cocoa Awards was held in Accra on Friday, 22 November at Movenpick. The award was to recognise the hard work of stakeholders, industry players, consumers and stakeholders. The initiative which was birthed by VC Media assembled players on the entire value chain from production to processing, buying, education and consumption.
Among the winners of the awards was former president HE John Agyekum Kuffour for his immense contribution to the development of the industry. He was presented with the Honorary Cocoa Lifetime Achievement.
Also winning a prestigious and ultimate award of the Tetteh Quashie Cocoa Personality is Hon. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the CEO of COCOBOD. All attendees and award winners could not hide their sentiments at the timelines of such award as this marks the 140th years since the Cocoa seed first touched the soil of Ghana.
The event lead, Mr Kojo Hayford, was of the view that, the industry has responded very positively to the event and this shows how some recognition of the golden bean has been ignored.
Below is the list of some award winners;
Custodian of the Golden Tree Award: Osabarima Kwame Otu Darte III
Cocoa Farmers Income Sustainability Award: Mr Yves Barima Kone
Cocoa Sustainability Special Award: Mr. Anthony Fofie
Best Haulier of the Year – KITEKO Ghana Ltd
Agro Input of the Year (Fertilizer) – Yara
Agro Input of the Year (Chemicals) – RMG Ghana Ltd
Agro Input of the Year (Farm Implement) – Sharp Power 4T
Tertiary Cocoa Processing Company of the Year – NICHE Cocoa Industry
Semi-Finished Cocoa Processing Company of the Year- NICHE
Cocoa IndustryCocoa Financing Institution of the Year – Agricutural Development Bank
Cocoa Sustainability Special Award: Mr. Anthony Fofie
Chocolate Brand of the Year Large Scale – Niche cocoa
Artisanal Chocolate Brand – Decokraft
Community Energy Innovation – Zola Energy
Best in packaging innovation – NICHE Chocolate
Cocoa Beverage Product – Royal Natural Cocoa Powder
Cocoa Cosmetics Product – Beauty Secrets
Most innovative cocoa products – Koa Cocoa juice
Research and Development Project – Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana
Best Cocoa Consumption Ambassador – Dr Edward Ampofo
Best Cocoa NGO – Solidaridad West Africa
Cocoa Sustainability Initiative – Vivoa Life Mondelez
Sustainability personality – Yaa Peprah Amekudzie
Cocoa Entrepreneur – Edmund Poku, NICHE Cocoa
