The National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) has been honored by the cocoa industry players for the inclusion and supply of cocoa powder to senior high schools under the Free Senior High School programme.

The company was adjudged the “Consumption Promotion Organization (Honorary category) 2019” at the 1st Ghana Cocoa Awards which took place in Accra over the weekend.

The event also saw 36 other organizations and individuals honored for various contribution towards the growth and development of the Cocoa sector since 140 years ago when local Blacksmith, Tetteh Quarshie first brought the cocoa beans to the then Gold Coast from Fernando Po, now Equatorial Guinea.

According to the sector regulator, Ghana Cocoa Board, cocoa offers direct employment to about 800 thousand people and provides a livelihood for some 6 million others. Over the decades, the golden pod’s importance has transcended financial to areas including infrastructure, health and nutrition, cosmetics, education and research.

The Ghana Cocoa Awards, a private and independent initiative, is meant to recognize outstanding achievements mainly but not limited to cocoa industry.

Since 2017 when the Free SHS begun, NAFCO has been promoting cocoa powder to state boarding high schools with the twin aim of improving diet intake and encouraging the consumption of cocoa products among young people.

It is believed NAFCO has for the past three years supplied the cocoa product to some 1.7 million students nationwide.

The company’s Head of Operations, Mr. Kofi Amankwah and Corporate Affairs Manager, Mr. Emmanuel J.K Arthur received the award on behalf of NAFCO.

Commenting on the latest recognition, Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Hanan Abdul-Wahab said honour will inspire the company to do more in the coming years.

“We dedicate it to our Cocoa farmers, our Licensed Suppliers and the Minister for Education who gave us the opportunity to contribute our quota towards the successful implementation of the Free SHS initiative”, he added.

Cocoa powder is one of 18 food commodities supplied by NAFCO to schools under the Free SHS.

Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Cocoa Board, Mr. Joseph Boahene Aidoo won the topmost the Tetteh Quarshie Cocoa Personality 2019 Award.

Other award winners were former President J.A Kufuor for Cocoa Lifetime Achievement Award; former Chief Executive of Cocoa Board, Mr. Anthony Fofie; and Agricultural Development Bank for cocoa financing.