The awardees, who were from Agroecom Ghana Ltd and Unicom commodities, two auxiliary institutions of the Ecom group of companies, were presented with flat screen television sets, mobile phones and other gifts.

The award ceremony is held annually and is aimed at bringing the various franchise holders and managers of the Ecom group together to share ideas, socialise.

Recognition is given to those who put up remarkable performance in the year under review.

Assurance

The General Manager of Unicom Commodities Ghana, Mr Onyinah Acheampong Kwasi Gyamfi, assured staff of the company that management was very proud of their effort to achieve good results for the company and their contribution to the nation’s coffers.

He said Ecom Ghana and its auxiliary companies were implementing strategies to support government’s drive to improve the quantity and quality of cocoa produced in the country which was one of the best in the world.

Digitization

He hinted of plans by Ecom to digitise its operations. He said through technology that would be deployed, the company would, in the long run, be in the position to track all cocoa beans purchased by all its franchise holders across the country.

Mr Gyamfi said there were also plans by the company to register and insure all its 5000 purchasing clerks across the country.

Commendation

The Ashanti Regional Deputy Quality Control Manager of Ghana COCOBOD, Mr Frank Asante, commended Ecom Ghana Ltd and its subsidiaries for their contribution to the development of the cocoa industry in the country.

He said COCOBOD had introduced slashers, sprayers, pollination, digital scales and other systems into the system which were all geared towards assisting farmers with their work.

He was happy with the regular capacity building exercises undertaken by Ecom to ensure that its staff were on top of their jobs.

Mr Asante further commended the Ecom group for paying premium price for cocoa it bought from the 140,000 farmers working with it, as it went to boost their income and improved their standards of living.

He mentioned pruning of cocoa trees, artificial pollination, fertiliser distribution and supply of free improved, drought and disease resistant seeds as being among the initiatives that the government, through COCOBOD, was pursuing to improve cocoa production in the country.