Mr Richard Amarh Tetteh, Managing Director (MD) of Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) in Tema, on Wednesday said, barring any unforeseen major setback, the Company would resume production of Chocolate by the end of September. Mr Tetteh, who disclosed this at a Press Briefing in Tema, said in early May this year, Management of CPC decided to shut down portions of the Confectionery Factory for rehabilitation and routine maintenance. He said their cherished customers and the public were duly informed through adverts placed in some dailies within the same period. Mr Tetteh explained that even though there were several local cocoa processing companies in the country, currently, CPC is the sole manufacturer of chocolate. "We believe, therefore, that we owe the public and our numerous valued customers the duty, particularly, of telling them when production of the product will resume", he added. Recounting the historical background of the Confectionery Factory, the MD, who was flanked by some Management members of the company, said it was set up in 1965, and had since not seen any major rehabilitation. According to the MD, the company aimed not only to retain critical local certification by the Ghana Standards Board and the Food and Drugs Board, but also to qualify for the International Standard Organisation (ISO) certification to bolster international confidence in its products. He said the standards of these regulatory bodies required among others, a high level of good manufacturing practices, which the project sought to achieve. He further stated that, the project involved the installation of new packaging machines for five and 10 grammes of chocolate and a new moulding line to boost production to enable CPC to meet the increased demand for confectionery products. Mr Tetteh noted that the refurbishment of the two Cocoa factories has just been completed, and virtually the entire compound had been paved, adding that, this had immensely enhanced the company's corporate image. He, however, said the major task now after rehabilitation of the confectionary was the much-expected job. Source: GNA