Tema, Aug. 21, GNA – The Cocoa Marketing Company (Ghana) Limited (CMC) has launched a comprehensive 24-hour operational model to improve the movement of cocoa across the logistics and export value chain.
The initiative, launched by CMC Managing Director Wisdom Kofi Dogbey, is being implemented under three pillars: Offload 24, Load 24 and Export 24.
It forms part of CMC’s contribution to President John Dramani Mahama’s 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme.
The launch brought together representatives of government, COCOBOD, Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), cocoa processors, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Meridian Port Services, the Ghana Revenue Authority, shipping lines, hauliers, international cocoa buyers, the Quality Control Company and other stakeholders.
Mr Dogbey said the initiative marked a significant change in CMC’s approach to cocoa logistics, warehousing, processing support and exports.
He said operations at CMC take-over centres, including those in Tema, Kumasi and Takoradi, had traditionally followed conventional working hours.
This was resulting in delays when trucks arrived late in the day or when documentation and other processes extended beyond working hours.
“The world does not stop at 5 p.m. or 4 p.m., and neither should Ghana’s cocoa ambition,” he said.
He said the new model would keep critical sections of the cocoa movement chain operational beyond traditional working hours, particularly, with the commencement of the new cocoa season.
Under Offload 24, CMC will receive cocoa from LBCs around the clock to reduce truck queues, waiting periods and congestion at its facilities.
Load 24 will facilitate the supply of cocoa to local processing factories beyond conventional working hours, while Export 24 will extend cocoa inspection, stuffing, sealing, documentation and shipment preparation to align with vessel schedules and port operations.
Mr Dogbey said the three pillars were operational commitments aimed at addressing inefficiencies in the cocoa logistics chain.
He explained that the 24-Hour Economy did not require individual employees to work continuously for 24 hours.
It involves organising productive activities around multiple shifts to enable infrastructure, human resources and other assets to generate economic value beyond the traditional working day.
He said the initiative would strengthen logistics integration, improve cocoa movement, support domestic processing and enhance coordination among warehouses, factories, ports and international markets.
“A chain cannot move faster than its slowest link. For too long, at certain times of the day, that link has been us. This season, we remove that constraint,” he said.
Mr Dogbey said implementation of the programme would be monitored using indicators including truck turnaround times, volumes handled, documentation efficiency, shipment performance, safety, quality and overall operational performance.
He urged LBCs to make use of evening delivery windows and cocoa processing companies to schedule trucks beyond daylight hours.
He also urged shipping lines to provide gate-in windows that aligned with CMC’s extended operating schedule, while appealing to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, security agencies and other stakeholders to support the initiative.
He urged CMC employees to embrace discipline, teamwork, responsiveness and a new operational mindset.
The company expects the model to shorten the period between cocoa receipt, loading and export, improve support for domestic processing and strengthen Ghana’s competitiveness in the international cocoa market.
Mr Dogbey commended the implementation committee, chaired by CMC Deputy Managing Director in charge of Operations Jamal Konneh, as well as the company’s Board, Management, staff and COCOBOD leadership for supporting the initiative.
He said the new operating model demonstrated Ghana’s readiness to improve productivity, accelerate exports and compete more effectively in the global cocoa trade.
“Ghana is ready to work. Ghana is ready to export. Ghana is ready to compete. And CMC is ready to play its part,” he said.
He said CMC would receive cocoa as it arrived, supply processing factories when required and prepare cocoa exports in line with vessel schedules while safeguarding the quality and reputation of Ghana’s cocoa.
The launch of Offload 24, Load 24 and Export 24 marks a new operational phase for CMC as it seeks to improve efficiency in the cocoa value chain and contribute to the Government’s 24-Hour Economy agenda.
GNA
Edited by Beatrice Asamani Savage