The sterling performance by one of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo’s appointees in the Food and Agriculture sector continue to attract commendations from both home and abroad.
The African Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) and the West African Regional Magazine (TWARM) at the weekend honored the Chief Executive of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Mr. Hanan Abdul-Wahab with the West African Regional Magazine (TWARM) Business & Leadership Award.
The honor, a special recognition award in the agriculture sector and for sustainable food security in Ghana was in recognition of Mr. Abdul-Wahab’s leadership role in turning around the fortunes of the state food security company, from an almost collapsed entity to now a vibrant profit-making firm.
Mr. Abdul-Wahab was among 14 individuals and organisations honoured on the sidelines of 6th Africa –China Business Dialogue in Shanghai, China over the weekend organized by African Business Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) and the West African Regional Magazine (TWARM).
Mr. Abdul-Wahab was appointed CEO of NAFCO in 2017 and has so far been credited with several gains including expansion and increases in additional warehouses and pack-houses to boost food commodity storage nationwide.
With the commencement of the implementation of the Free Senior High School programme, government decided to assign NAFCO the responsibility of food supply to all state High Schools for the feeding of students, a charge NAFCO is widely believed to have performed creditably contributing to the overall success of the Free SHS policy.
NAFCO’s performance over the last three years is also said to have generated about 3,000 direct jobs through its Licensed Buyers and Licensed Suppliers schemes and over 10,000 indirect jobs for Warehouse workers, Loaders, farmers, drivers and other artisans.
“This is in recognition of your laudable performance in NAFCO, which has helped to accelerate development in the agriculture sector of Ghana, and for safeguarding sustainable food in the country”, the citation accompanying the award said.
NAFCO was set up in 2010 and tasked with key roles of handling government emergency food program and help in the prevention of Post-harvest loses by purchasing, selling, preserving and distributing food.
It is also responsible for mopping up excess produce from farmers, facilitate the export of surplus stock, expanding the demand for food grown in Ghana by selling to state institutions such as schools, prisons, hospitals, military and build and manage Warehouses and Pack-houses.
By successfully undertaking the above, NAFCO is expected to help reduces post-harvest loses, protects farmer’s income, guarantees farmers stable and acceptable prices and ready market and aid in stabilizing demand and supply of food commodities.
Speaking at the award ceremony, an obviously elated NAFCO boss thanked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo for the opportunity granted him by his appointment to contribute towards food sustainability and security in Ghana in particular and West Africa in general.
He solicited support for government’s continuous stay in office to enable it complete “the socially prudent and economically vibrant policies it has embarked upon”.
Story & photos: Corporate Affairs Dept., NAFCO.