The Managing Director Of The Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC), Dr. Wisdom Kofi Dogbey, has thrown his weight behind the Two-Day National Flood Aftermath Clean-Up Exercise, saying flooding poses a direct threat to Ghana’s cocoa quality and the health of industry workers.
Speaking ahead of the nationwide exercise scheduled for Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11, 2026, Dr. Dogbey said protecting the environment was critical to safeguarding the country’s reputation as the producer of “*the best cocoa in the world.”
“It’s extremely important. That is why I appreciate the fact that His Excellency The President asks all of us to put our hands together and come and do some clean-up exercise,” Dr. Dogbey said.
“Flooding Is A Risk To Ghana Cocoa”
Dr. Dogbey explained that before cocoa beans are exported, they go through a rigorous quality control process to ensure they meet international standards.
“Ghana is known as the origin of the best cocoa in the world, and so things like flooding is a risk to us. Before we get cocoa coming in, we go through a very rigorous process with our quality control company, ensuring that each bean that comes to us is of the utmost quality,” he said.
He warned that if warehouses are flooded, the quality of beans could be compromised, with serious consequences for Ghana’s export earnings and global reputation.
“So it is a big risk if we cannot protect the warehouses. It floods, and then the quality is compromised. So this is actually a step in the right direction for us and for Ghana Cocoa,” he added.
Clean Environment Is A Health Issue For Workers
Beyond cocoa quality, the CMC Boss said the exercise was also about protecting people who work in the sector.
“It is extremely important, not just for the cocoa bean, but also for the people that work in the industry. Look at where we work. If people work here and the environment is not clean, that is a health risk to us,” Dr. Dogbey noted.
He stressed that clean drains and waterways were necessary to ensure rainwater flows freely and does not disrupt operations or endanger staff.
“Number one, making sure that our people work in an environment that is clean enough, and making sure that our cocoa that we export globally remains top quality, even with changes in weather. If it rains a lot, it should be able to flow without impacting the cocoa bean, without impacting our people,” he said.
A Call To All Ghanaians
Dr. Dogbey expressed concern about citizens who are reluctant to take part in sanitation exercises, describing it as “quite unfortunate.”
“I think it’s quite unfortunate if, at this point, folks don’t see the importance of keeping our environment very clean, and also our waterways, making sure it’s not choked,” he said.
He urged all Ghanaians to take personal responsibility for their surroundings.
“I’m calling on everyone, not just folks in Accra, but everyone. If you’re Ghanaian, please make it your responsibility to ensure that your environment is as clean as possible,” he said.
National Exercise Underway
The Two-Day National Flood Aftermath Clean-Up Exercise was directed by *His Excellency The President* following devastating floods on June 29.
According to the Minister For Local Government, Chieftaincy And Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, the exercise will run from 6:00 Am To 1:00 Pm on both days. Friday is for government and private institutions, while Saturday targets communities and residents.
Government has directed that markets and shops in affected areas remain closed during the hours to allow full participation.
With support from institutions like CMC, authorities hope the exercise will reduce flooding risks, improve public health, and protect key sectors of the economy, including cocoa.
