Kufuor, Rawlings, Mahama and Akufo-Addo to be honoured

The past presidents will be honoured for their contribution to the cocoa sector as leaders

Experts from various sectors of the economy are billed to assemble in Accra at the Kempinski Hotel on May 30, 2018, to discuss Ghana’s cocoa sector.

The event dubbed: ‘The Green Ghana Lecture Series’, the first of its kind and put together by a cooperative of local cocoa farmers will also have in attendance the Special Advisor to the UN Secretary-General on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development at the Colombia University, Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, as well as former President of Ghana, His Excellency, John Agyekum Kufuor.

Also attending the event is the Chief of Staff, Office of the President, Hon. Frema Osei-Opare.

The discussion focuses on the Future of the Cocoa Industry in Ghana and the role of the youth in a Ghana Beyond Aid as well as the prospects of leveraging on ICT to attract and empower the youth in Agriculture for economic liberation.

The panel include Nana Adusei Atwenewa I, Tepamanhene, Mr. Gershon Sena Kpikpitse, a Cocoa Farmer, Madam Fatima Ali, President, KKFU, Flt. Lft. (Rtd) Joseph Bampo Atiemo, Dr. Kweku Ofosu-Asare, Lecturer/Researcher, GIMPA, Mr. Anthony Fofie, former CEO, COCOBOD, Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo, Minister of State in Charge of Public Procurement, Mr. Ameir Mbode, International Trade Consultant, and Mr. John Kumah, CEO, National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Plan (NEIP).

The event will also recognize and award outstanding personalities whose leadership and governance in the cocoa sector has ensured growth of the commodity. Among the personalities to be awarded are: H. E. Jerry John Rawlings, H. E. John Agyekum Kufuor, H. E. John Dramani Mahama, H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Hon. Frema Osei-Opare, Dr. Kofi Kodua Sarpong, Pauline Tiffen, Flt. Lft. (Rtd) Joseph Bampo Atiemo and Nana Abebrese II.

Prior to the lecture, there was the final debate contest between four tertiary institutions – University of Cape Coast, University of Education, Winneba (Kumasi Campus), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, and Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.

The Country Director for Millennium Promise Alliance, Chief Nathaniel Ebo Nsarko, said “This is a very historic event and we are delighted to assemble some of the best brains in the cocoa sector to discuss how best the Ghana could derive maximum benefit from cocoa. This laudable initiative has come to stay”.

The President of Kuapa Kokoo, Madam Fatima Ali, also commenting on the event said “We are hopeful that this lecture series will be the stepping stone to revolutionizing Ghana’s cocoa sector. We believe that after this event, this will never be the same”.