Workshop on Cocoa Certification ends in Kumasi

Kumasi, June 27, GNA - A three-day workshop on Cocoa certification for 25 cocoa extension officers and agents of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) from cocoa producing districts in Ashanti, Eastern and the Central Regions has ended in Kumasi.

It was organized by the West Africa Fair Fruit (WAFF), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) working for the promotion of sustainable agriculture in Ghana, Nigeria, Cote d'Ivoire and Cameroon, with its head office in Accra

It aimed at training the participants in cocoa certification, especially the UTZ certificated code of conduct, and also to help them in their commitment to support COCOBOD to provide extension services to cocoa farmers.

Mr Vincent Frimpong Manu, Ghana Cocoa Programme Manager of (WAFF) in his closing remarks hoped participants would share the knowledge and skills acquired with the farmer to increase productivity and thereby increase their yields and incomes as well.

He urged the COCOBOD to forge partnership with a lot more private companies and organizations so that the challenges that faced the sector could be dealt with.

Mr Abdulai Aliyu, a Certification Officer at WAFF, advised the participants to humble themselves to the farmers, relate well with them and always appreciate their experiences.

Mr Samuel Asare, the Central Regional Extension Officer of the Cocoa Swollen Shoot and Virus Division (CSSVD) and a participant at the workshop, said they would go back and share the ideas acquired with the farmers so that they would become part of the global cocoa system.