From a total of 155 entries received for the 2020 edition of the annual Ghana Cocoa Awards, 82 nominees have been shortlisted for the 2nd Networking and Awards Gala Night.

The event will be held on November 14 in Accra.

The eminent Advisory and Awarding Board, chaired by Professor Emmanuel Ohene Afoakwa, is presently assessing the finalist entries to deliver the ultimate winners for all categories.

Winners will be announced exclusively at the Gala Night, which commences at 7 PM prompt.

The Awards are made up of 31 competitive categories including Agro Input, Ecotourism, Research, Production, Internal Marketing, Cocoa Financing, Processing, Artisanal Value Addition, Innovation, Journalism, Sustainability and Leadership.

A number of individuals and organizations will also be accorded Special Recognition in leadership and COVID19 Humanitarian efforts.

This year, two distinguished private sector actors qualified with very strong bids for the coveted Cocoa Personality of the Year honor currently held by the Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board, Joseph Boahen Aidoo.

The second annual Networking and Awards Gala Night of Ghana Cocoa Awards (GCA) will be chaired by former Member of the Council of State and Presidential Adviser, His Majesty Ehunabobrim Prah Agyensaim VI, King of Owirenkyi Traditional Area (Assin Kushea) in the Central Region.

Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Mr. Yofi Grant, is Guest Speaker.

The Special Guest of Honour for this year’s event dubbed the COVID19 Resilience Edition is the Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board, Honourable Joseph Boahen Aidoo.

Ghana Cocoa Awards 2020 is on the theme “The Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – Prospects and Opportunities for Ghana’s Cocoa.”

As a curtain-raiser, the Golden Pod Emporium, an upmarket ’pop-up’ mini-mart a showcase of an array of the finest Ghanaian and African cocoa products will commence at 9 AM and dovetail into the Awards ceremony, in the foyer of the ballroom.

This is being organized in partnership with Know Your Cocoa Foundation (KYCF) and the Cocoapreneurship Institute of Ghana (CIG).

About Ghana Cocoa Awards

GCA is an independent industry awards scheme designed to spotlight and celebrate innovation, achievement, and excellence while offering an unparalleled platform for networking in the Ghana cocoa value chain.

Ghana Cocoa Awards is a concept of VC Media and supported by ECOM Ghana and AMP Logistics Ghana Limited.

Founder/Event Director of the scheme Kojo Hayford noted “we recognize by this initiative that it is the hard work and dedication of the Ghanaian cocoa farmer working in concert with the sector regulator – Ghana Cocoa Board – and industry that delivers the peerless world-acclaimed premium quality Ghana Cocoa, hence this initiative to recognize and honor outstanding achievements.”

The cocoa sector accounts for 2.5% of Ghana’s GDP, 25% of foreign exchange earnings, and offers millions of jobs including livelihood for about 800,000 farming families. The impact of Ghana cocoa’s US$2billion forex receipt injected into the economy annually is felt in areas such as budget finance, infrastructure, education, health, and nutrition, among others.

Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM