The Ghana Chapter of Globally Reaching Olam Women (“GROW”), a dynamic voluntary association of women workers in Olam’s worldwide operations, was launched as part of the company’s activities marking celebration of International Women’s Day 2018.

Fifty female staff from different businesses and divisions of Olam Ghana across the country congregated in Accra for the colourful launch ceremony.

Highlights of the event included inspirational talks by prominent female personalities and screening for Breast Cancer by a medical team.

GROW was first launched in 2012 by female staff of Olam in the United States with a mission to increase employee engagement and foster globally inclusive environment. Its activities include a company mentoring programme and a series of networking events.

Mr. Amit Agrawal, Country Manager of Olam Ghana who launched the association said, “Within the past six years of its formation, GROW has played a pivotal role in encouraging employee engagement initiatives, by creating a platform to effectively communicate, interact and learn.”

Mr. Agrawal told the Ghana chapter of GROW that membership provides prospects and opportunities that are fully backed by Olam Management. However, he also stressed his hope that the members themselves would take full advantage of the potential it holds.

Speaking to the press on launch day, Christiana Anim Asare, Brands Manager for Olam Ghana’s rice business who championed and coordinated the launch event, stressed that GROW is neither a department nor union within Olam but is “a network that aims to create an environment in which women are engaged, inspired and can express themselves as leaders”.

She said GROW has a slogan: “Go Olam Women Worldwide!” which is a clear call for women in Olam to strive to excel in whatever they do and be actively engaged within both work and community environments.

Women are prominent across Olam Ghana and play an active role in every facet of the company’s operations, according to statistics presented at the launch.

Women are in the forefront of Olam’s sustainability programmes with some 10,150 female farmers out of a total farmer population of 35,000 (about 29%) involved in the company’s farmer sustainability programme.

In Olam’s Cocoa operations, Kennedy Ntoso, Head of Sustainability announced that “The Ladies are gradually taking over a male dominated business, as we now have capable female Zonal Heads, Port Executives, Fertilizer Executives and trusted Warehouse Keepers in our ranks.” Three out of eight senior managers at Olam’s Cocoa Possessing plant in Kumasi are women in charge of very sensitive schedules”, he said.

Olam Ghana Limited is a subsidiary of Olam International, a leading global commodity trading company based in Singapore.

Olam Ghana has a 22-year track record in Ghana as a major supply chain manager for agric products and food ingredients and is currently ranked among the country’s leading Licenced Cocoa Buying Companies (LBCs).

The company is a leading trader in Ghana’s cocoa beans into European and Asian markets and in its cocoa business alone, employs over 200 Ghanaian men and women in its procurement and distribution units and warehousing centres spread across the country.