Ghana Cocobod gets new CEO
The Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod), Ghana’s cocoa industry regulator has appointed a new Chief Executive to replace Isaac Osei, the former Chief Executive who has recently been elected as one of the new entrants into Ghana’s parliament in the general elections of December 7, 2008.
Mr. Osei has been elected the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for the Subin Constituency in the Ashanti region.
A statement from the Cocobod released Friday, January 2, 2009 says Tony Fofie, who has been serving as the deputy Chief Executive in charge of agronomy and quality control has been appointed to take over as Chief Executive. His appointment takes effect January 1, 2009.
Mr. Fofie who hails from Kete Krachi in the Volta Region has served for 34 years in the cocoa industry.
According to the statement, Mr. Fofie entered the cocoa industry in 1974 as an Agricultural Officer from where he rose through the ranks to become the Regional Manager for the Volta and Western Regions of Cocoa Services Division between 1991 and 2000.
In 2000 he was promoted to the position of Executive Director of Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease Control Unit of the Board, a position he held until 2004 when he was appointed the Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Agronomy and Quality Control.
Being the most senior Deputy Chief Executive, he always acted as the Chief Executive in the absence of the substantive Chief Executive.
Mr Fofie had his secondary education at Bishop Herman College, Kpando from 1963 to 1970.
He continued his education at the University of Science and Technology where he obtained a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Agriculture in 1974.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi
It’s time the cocoa board revisit cocoa extension service. most of the farmers are doing their own thing still glued to acient ,primitive waying of farming. No pruning, poor weeding, avoiding removal of mistleto saying it natural for a cocoa farm to harbour all these prasitic plants. they only go to harvest what could restand black pod disease. how can a farmer cultivate 10acres and have 10 bags and be happy this is total westage because he has’nt be taught so cocoa board shold go back to the extension system or give something to the extension agents of m .o. f .a to help in the work . or by fives to come when oil has fully gain it root in the country cocoa would be forgetten and Ghana would not be counted among the top five of the world ever again.
congratulations for recent updates.Illd be most grateful if you could feed me with current board membersof ghana cocobod.Thanx for your cooperation.