BRIEF HISTORY:
As part of the conditionality under the Agricultural Sector Adjustment Credit (AGSAC), the internal marketing of cocoa was liberalized in the 1992/93-maincrop seasons. This resulted in the introduction of competition into the internal marketing of cocoa, which enabled other Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to purchase cocoa from farmers for delivery to Cocobod for a commission. Adwumapa is one of the first five companies that had license to operate after coming into effect the reintroduction of competition in the internal marketing of cocoa in Ghana.
THE COMPANY ADWUMAPA
Adwumapa Buyers Ltd is a Limited Liability Company registered under the Ghana Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179) and solely owned by Ghanaians. It was incorporated in 1992 in anticipation of the liberalization of the internal marketing of cocoa in 1993. It is worthy to note that Adwumapa has a provisional license to partake in the external marketing of cocoa if it becomes operational.
A four-member board of Directors heads the company, with an Executive Director. A General Manager and other Head Office staff head the operations of the company.
Adwumapa operates in Western, Eastern, Central, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions of Ghana. But for convenience of operations, the company operates in 73 cocoa districts grouped under 11 Areas namely, Western South ‘A’, Western Sourth ‘B’, Western North ‘A’, Western North ‘B’, Western North ‘C’, Eastern, Ashanti ‘A’, Ashanti ‘B’, Ashanti ‘C’, Brong Ahafo and Central.
The Areas are grouped into two operational Zones under two operation Managers with Deputies. Each Area is being managed by an Area Manager who supervises a number of Districts.
OPERATIONAL ZONE 1 |
OPERATIONAL ZONE 2 |
ASHANTI ‘B’ |
WESTERN NORTH ‘A’ |
W/SOUTH ‘A’ |
WESTERN NORTH ‘C’ |
W/SOUTH ‘B’ |
ASHANTI ‘A’ |
W/NORTH ‘B’ |
ASHANTI ‘C’ |
EASTERN |
BRONG AHAFO |
CENTRAL |
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Under each district are commission agents called Purchasing Clerks (PCs) who operate within societies and deal directly with farmers. The PCs buy and deliver cocoa to the district depots where the District Manager in turn prepares it for grading and sealing and delivery to the port for Cocoa Marketing Company Ltd (CMC) to takeover.
EMPLOYMENT
It is worthy to note that Adwumapa has 304 permanent staff and over 3,500 commission agents all over its operational areas.
Indirectly the company provides jobs for more than 6,600 in its operations.
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
The company has carried out construction and grading of roads in the Western region, Enchi, construction of School building in Ashanti Region, Aponoapono in the Amansie West District, Supply of exercise books and pens to farmers for their wards.
COCOA FARM INPUT SUPPLY
Adwumapa Buyers Ltd. has been a pioneer in the supply of farm inputs to farmers on credit in the industry and still believes and committed to sustainable management of soil fertility and pest control. The company therefore has a programmefor farm input supply to farmers
with technical support.
SOCIETY DEVELOPMENT
In order to consolidate its farmer base, the company runs a society development unit which focuses on farmer group animation and development. Farmer groups are mobilized to access technical and financial supports from relevant institutions. Purchasing Clerks and farmers are motivated to sustain societies. It is the commitment of the Company to ensure that all its purchased cocoa is sustainably produced (CERTIFIED) and traceable in the medium term.
CORPORATE LINKAGES
The company has a strong link with Alhaji Salia Enterprise Limited (ASEL), a haulage company with significant fleet of articulated trucks to facilitate the secondary evacuation of their purchased stocks to takeover centers. The Company is also in a very close link with ABASA General Enterprise that provides Warehousing at Takoradi and Tema Ports. In deed Adwumapa Buyers Ltd., Alhaji Salia Enterprise Ltd. and ABASA General Enterprise are sister companies with common ownership.
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