ACCRA, Ghana – The Inter-African Coffee Organisation (IACO) intends to expand its membership to include not only producing countries but also countries with high consumption capacity.The Ghanaian Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, who was elected as Chairman of the organisation at its 59th General Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya last year explained that the main focus currently was to get members states to submit comments on the draft document for adoption and promulgation of the new IACO Agreement and was happy that some of the countries had already submitted their comments for consideration and inclusion.
The minister stated this at his maiden board meeting with members held in Kumasi last week via zoom.
The meeting, which supposed to have taken place in London and attended by 25 member states was to enable the members to look at steps towards the promulgation of the agreement and also look at the financial standing of member countries to help upgrade the organisation capacity to undertake its own commitment and major financial and investment decisions.
Dr Akoto further reminded them that the 60th anniversary and general assembly meeting would be held in Accra in July this year and was looking forward to host members.
He was excited that the planning committee for the meeting was working tirelessly to a successful organisation of the event.
Dr Akoto hinted that the member states were finalising arrangements for the construction of the IACO headquarters to begin in Ivory Coast and was hopeful “with every shoulder to the wheel, we shall sail through together,” in spite of the probable challenges.
