Cargill Building Cocoa Processing Plant in Ghana

On July 19, Cargill announced the ground breaking ceremony where a new cocoa processing plant will be built in Tema, Ghana. In addition to three high-ranking Cargill representatives, others present for the ceremony were Ghana's president, John Kufuor; U.S. Under Secretary of Agriculture Mark Keenum; and Isaac Osei, Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board.

The press release says this will be a state-of-the-art facility where cocoa liquor, butter and powder will be produced. Building will not be completed until the summer of 2008, but once processing begins, the plant will be another step in Cargill's continued participation in and commitment to Ghana and its growing economy.

Paul Naar is the head of Cargill's Food Ingredients businesses in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Regarding the agreement Cargill and the Ghana Cocoa Board signed in 2006, followed by the ground breaking ceremony, Naar said: "We are excited to be making a contribution to Ghana's growing economy. This plant will incorporate some of the latest technology to ensure Ghanaian cocoa is processed to the highest standards. Ghana is one of the most important cocoa supplying countries in the world and creating value-added products in Ghana will not only be good for the people of Ghana, but will also allow us to provide a greater range of cocoa products to meet the growing needs of our cocoa customers around the world. We realize how fortunate we are to have access to such high quality cocoa and are grateful for the continued support and leadership of the Ghanaian Government."

Ghana's President Kufuor expressed similar sentiments when he said: "We are delighted that Cargill has chosen Ghana to build a world-class cocoa processing facility. Cargill is a well-respected private company whose involvement in our country will create jobs, benefit farmers, and contribute to the local community."