COCOBOD reopens after coronavirus shut down and fumigation

The staff of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) have returned to work after a three-day closure of the Cocoa House and the Head Offices of its subsidiaries and divisions in Accra for a fumigation exercise.

COCOBOD reopens after the fumigation necessitated by the detection of positive cases of COVID-19 among some staff. This followed the conduct of a mass testing for the novel Coronavirus pandemic in collaboration with the Cocoa Clinic.

Both exercises (the mass testing and fumigation) also formed part of a series of measures which the cocoa authority had been undertaking in an effort to protect its staff and stakeholders against COVID-19.

As early as March 2020, it announced that in an effort to decongest its offices, Heads of Divisions/Subsidiaries, Units and Departments and core staff were to report to work while the rest of the staff report in accordance with a shift roster and work from home the rest of the time.

The cocoa authority also promptly mounted touchless automatic sanitizer dispensers at vantage points in all Its offices for use by staff and visitors and insisted on the strict observation of all precautionary measures against COVID-19.

The management has assured stakeholders within the cocoa value chain, from farmers to buyers and processors, that business is ongoing, not just to provide essential services but to fulfil all responsibilities to all parties in both the supply and demand sides of the cocoa sector.

In a recent circular to staff, the Chief Executive Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo asked staff to observe the necessary protocols at all times, particularly, at work as the nation strives to overcome the virus.