Accra, Sept. 19, GNA - The Management of Cocoa Marketing Company Limited has terminated the appointments of 37 members of staff who constituted the take-over staff at the Takoradi Port Sheds as well as the Apowa Sheds following recommendations of a committee that investigated the taking-over and shipment of short-weight cocoa. A statement signed in Accra on Wednesday by Mr Isaac Osei, Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board, said the termination of the appointments took effect from September 10.

It said six supervisors and the Area Coordinators had also been suspended from duty without pay with effect from September 10. Meanwhile, it said, Mrs Peggy Gavua, Depot Keeper, Apowa Shed "E" had been dismissed for receiving short-weight cocoa into stock after a shortage of 99 bags of cocoa was discovered in her shed during the stock-taking exercise.

Cocobod said Mrs Gavua, who absconded from duty since June 14 and had since not been traced, had therefore been dismissed with effect from September 10.

In another development, Cocobod has, with immediate effect revoked the licence of Sunshine Commodities Limited, a cocoa buying company. It said the company and its directors were banned from transacting any cocoa business in Ghana and any individual, group or company that did business with it on behalf of Cocobod did so at their own risk.