Olam Cocoa Processing (OCP) Ghana Limited, a leader in cocoa ingredients processing and one of the companies of olam food ingredients, last Friday welcomed the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority (GFZA), Dr Mary Awusi at its premises as part of her two-day working familiarization tour of selected Free Zones companies in the Ashanti Region.

The visit by Dr. Awusi, who assumed office two months ago, was to appreciate firsthand the companies operating under the Authority, introduce herself, and gain insight into their operations. It was also an opportunity to note the challenges encountered and how her leadership can best aid a positive transformation of the sector. The visit to Olam Cocoa Processing marked her fourth stop since beginning the tour of the Ashanti Region.

Dr. Awusi was accompanied by the Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Operations, Mr Apau Wiredu, the Director of Administration, Mr Alhassan Ziblim, the Director of Enclaves & Zones, Mr Kwame Nsiah Asante and others.

The General Manager, Ing. Prince Acheampong, and his leadership team received the delegation at the processing facility. The engagement began with departmental introductions, followed by a comprehensive presentation on Olam Cocoa Processing operations by the Production Manager, Brian Owusu-Bempah. He took the delegation through the company’s history, strict safety standards, and cocoa liquor production processes.

Mr. Owusu–Bempah pointed out that the factory is SMETA certified for responsible social practices, FSSC 22000 certified for food safety, UTZ and Fairtrade certified for sustainable liquor production, and produced Halal and Kosher products. He added that under the Unicao brand, the factory produced a variety of liquors ranging from mild roast to full-bodied roasted nibs, which allowed the company to offer cocoa products from a single-source origin for multiple cocoa applications.

Dr. Awusi said Olam Cocoa Processing Ghana Limited and Olam food Ingredients Ghana Limited are stakeholders that have made strategic investments in the economy of Ghana and the growth of the agribusiness sector. She commended the team’s professionalism and encouraged open discussions around key issues affecting operations. Responding to the call, Ing. Prince Acheampong highlighted the importance of prioritizing cocoa sector challenges to ensure sustainable growth.

“With a leadership structure of 50 per cent women here at OCP, we are honoured to host Dr. Awusi and her team. Her visit reflects a genuine commitment to understanding and supporting the industries she now leads. As players in the cocoa value chain, we are hopeful that with her leadership, longstanding issues within the sector, particularly those related to cocoa supply, will receive the needed attention,” said Ing. Prince Acheampong, General Manager of OCP.

In her closing remarks, Dr. Awusi acknowledged the significance of the concerns raised and affirmed that cocoa-related challenges require strong, practical policy direction. She referenced the government’s current manifesto, noting that agribusiness is a key priority.

“If you consider the name change of our supervising Ministry from the Ministry of Trade and Industry to the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, you will appreciate our renewed focus on agribusiness, especially cocoa issues. With the Presidential Special Initiative on Agribusiness now fully set up and supported by the Ministry, I can confidently say that this is the time and season that companies like Olam will expand and thrive,” she assured.

The visit emphasized the Ghana Free Zones Authority’s renewed commitment to building stronger ties with industry players and addressing core sectoral challenges through policy, engagement, and strategic support. With Dr. Awusi’s assurance that the government will focus on agribusiness and cocoa under the new ministerial direction, Olam Cocoa Processing Ghana and similar companies can look forward to a more enabling environment for sustainable growth and expansion.