Accra, GhanaDespite being born in 1936 Nana Kusi is a thoroughly modern man. Fascinated by how ICTs can help the Cocoa Industry in Ghana, he called us in to the Produce Buying Company which he chairs. Being the largest buying company in the second largest producer in the World, there's a good chance he's sourced some of the chocolate you've eaten. Recounting the history of cocoa in Ghana, and the ups and downs in the industry, he explained how Swiss Missionaries originally introduced it for their own pleasure, and how Tetteh Quarshie commercialized it after seeing plantations of the plant in Central African Republic. Ghana has always tried to protect their farmers by setting prices and ensuring 70% of the FOB goes to the producer. They provide research, stability, transport, and inputs so that the farmers can have a steady market. But times are changing. Most market boards have fallen out of favour, and in Ghana, his company is now facing stiff competition as their buying monopoly was liberalized. They're down to 30% share of the beans. 'We need to keep the loyalty of our farmers' he stated. Squeezed on all sides, he's interested in how mobile phones can connect his office with their district officers and their local buying agents, and help introduce efficiences in how they manage their information needs/flow.
