Tema, June 17, GNA - Dr Percival Kuranchie, Board Chairman of COCOBOD has asked stakeholders in the cocoa industry to strategize to meet the numerous challenges facing the industry towards lifting the industry to the greatest level. He said the vision of the Ghana's First President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was to lift the nation's cocoa industry to unparalleled heights and the challenge was theirs to accomplish that.

Dr Kuranchie, who made the remark at a grand durbar in Tema to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of CMC, told the workers that they should make it their responsibility to ensure that Ghana ceaselessly derive obtain maximum revenue from cocoa. The theme for the Anniversary is: 94Fifty Years of Cocoa Trade-Sustaining the Momentum Towards the Achievement of the One Million Metric Tonne-Production Target." He, however, commended stakeholders in the industry for their commitment, dedication and devotion over the years, and said, this had for the first time resulted in producers chalking a landmark production of 916,803 metric tones at the end of the 2010/2011 main crop season. Dr Kuranchie said the feat was gratifying but had to be improved towards the upper limit. Nana Oduro Owusu, Managing Director (MD) of CMC, noted with satisfaction that during 50 years, the company had gathered momentum of not only growing in size, but had also developed into a major force in the worl= d commodity export trade. Nana Owusu paid glowing tribute to the founding fathers of CMC for their vision, sacrifice and foresight, and charged staff to be guided by th= e selfless principles of the pace-setters.

He pointed out that a lot more would be achieved for the company, only if workers prepared themselves fully to meet the challenges of their time, and kept the legacy which their pacesetters bequeathed to them. Pioneers of the company at the ceremony included Mr Amoako Gyampah, Mr Samuel Kyere Appah, and Flight Lieutenant Joe Atiemo.