According to the board, the incentives had resulted in unhealthy competition among Licensed Cocoa Buying Companies (LBC) and did not also ensure a level playing field for the LBCs.

The Head of Operations of Nyonkopa Cocoa Buying Company Limited, Mr Vincent Pius Abekah, made this known when he addressed 400 purchasing clerks drawn from the company’s Akyem Oda zone in Oda last Thursday.

E-payments introduced

Mr Abekah assured the purchasing clerks nonetheless that payment of premiums to farmers by Nyonkopa would continue as part of the company’s strategy to sustain its operations.

He said to avoid risks, including armed robbery attacks on purchasing clerks, all LBCs in the country had agreed to the use of e-payments for their purchases.

He further urged the purchasing clerks to ensure that the cocoa beans they purchased were of good quality and from reliable sources.

“Endeavour also to establish a close and harmonious relationship with the farmers and communicate well with them but devoid of partisan politics,” he said.

Nyonkopa records positive growth

The Oda Sector Manager of Nyonkopa, Mr Noah Appiah, who gave a review of the operational performance of the 12 districts under his jurisdiction, said due to proper management practices put in place and a programme of sustainability instituted, as well as hard work on the part of purchasing clerks, the company had consistently recorded positive growth over the past two years.

He urged the purchasing clerks, therefore, to continue with the good work they were doing and avoid negative practices that would go to tarnish the company’s image and that of Barry Carribaut, its multi-national partner.

The Oda District ‘A’ Manager of Nyonkopa, Mr Emmanuel Gyesi encouraged the purchasing clerks to keep proper records to help manage and improve their businesses.

Free from contamination

The Senior Purchasing Officer for Quality in charge of Akyem Oda/Achiase District for Nyonkopa, Mr Bernard Karikari Nkrumah, urged the purchasing clerks to ensure that cocoa beans they bought were free from all forms of contamination.

He cautioned them against spraying their warehouses and depots with weedicides and insecticides to avoid polluting the cocoa beans, adding that they should always keep their environments clean.

Fermentation

Mr Nkrumah urged them to encourage farmers to ferment their cocoa beans for six days before drying them.

A retired Chief Inspector of Police, Mr Kingsley Antwi, advised the participants to take their personal security seriously and refrain from using children in their work.

The Dunkwa Sector Manager of Nyonkopa, Mr David Koomson, chaired the function.

He advised the participants to put all they had learnt at the workshop into practice to ensure that their work was carried out smoothly.