The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has taken delivery of an additional set of donations from another stakeholder in the cocoa sector in support of the fight against COVID-19, particularly, in cocoa-growing communities in the country.

Barry Callebaut, a cocoa processing company located at Tema in the Greater Accra Region, today presented three hundred (300) pieces of Veronica Buckets, three hundred (300) gallons of 5-litre handwashing soap and three hundred (300) rolls of extra-large hand tissues.

The Managing Director of the company, Ms Charity Sackitey acknowledged during the presentation at the Cocoa House in Accra, that Ghana would not have a thriving cocoa and chocolate industry without a consistent supply of cocoa beans from the cocoa communities. As such the farmers, who keep working each year to ensure a reliable supply of cocoa beans are the backbone of the nation’s cocoa industry.

Therefore, she added, during this critical period in Ghana’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, there was the need to support farming communities and stop the spread of the virus.

“It is for this reason that Barry Callebaut decided to join hands with COCOBOD so that we can together stand with our farmers in the communities in these very challenging times”, she said.

Ms Sackitey noted that, as the regular washing of hands with soap under running water is one of the key preventative measures against the disease, she was optimistic that the donated items would go a long way to support beneficiary communities in their individual and collective efforts to stay safe.

Receiving the items, Hon. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the Chief Executive of COCOBOD said the government was doing everything possible to break the chain of transmission of the disease. He however believes the success of the government’s effort greatly depends on everyone making the preventative measures, particularly, the regular washing of hands a part of our daily life activities.

Hon. Aidoo expressed profound gratitude to Barry Callebaut and their sister company, Nyonkopa Cocoa, a licensed cocoa buying company, for their kind gesture. He assured the donors that the items would be delivered to cocoa communities to assist farmers to stay safe at all times.

The management of COCOBOD has been very instrumental in supporting the national effort against the spread of COVID-19 in the country. Using its vast distribution network in cocoa communities, several support items are been given out to cocoa farmers.

However, its support has not just been focused on fighting the pandemic in the cocoa-producing regions only. The Chief Executive and his three Deputies have already donated 50 percent of their salaries for three months and a cash amount of GH? 200,000.00, as well as, liquid handwashing soaps, hand sanitizers and cartons of cocoa powder to the Ministry of Health.