Regina Ntim-Addae distributing food to some of the pupils
As part of its corporate social responsibility, OLAM Ghana Limited, a leading global supply chain manager of agricultural products and food ingredients, has fed about 3,000 children in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale in the Northern region.
The pupils were provided with cooked rice, chicken and bread which were baked with the first flour from the company’s $55 million flour mill which is scheduled to be commissioned by the President on February 24.
About 1, 700 pupils were fed at the Ghana Police Training Basic School at Tesano while 300 were fed at the Osu Children’s Home all in Accra.
Also 500 pupils in Kumasi benefitted from the programme and another 500 in Tamale.Â
Addressing the media, the Head mistress of Ghana Police Training Basic School, Abena Akyiaa expressed her gratitude to Olam for the gesture.
She said “we used to have many pupils during the times of school feeding programme but since last term when the government stopped the project, some of the children who came from areas around the Tesano Police Depot have dropped out of school.”
Some of the pupils, who spoke to this paper, also pleaded with authorities to get them good computers so they could compete with other children in private schools.
“All the computers in our computer laboratory are malfunctioning and we find it difficult to understand ICT lectures in the classrooms without any practical experience.
“We also do not have good drinking water and so we are pleading with the government to assist us,” a pupil complained.
The Marketing Manager of OLAM Regina Ntim-Addae said the company, which has been in existence for over 15 years in Ghana, was growing at a very fast rate.
She noted that Olam is a commodity company that exports shea nut, cocoa, coffee, cashew, rice cotton and sugar.
She indicated that the company decided to go into the production of flour because of the high demand for the product in Ghana.
She noted that the flour factory produces about 500 tonnes of flour every week.
Ms Ntim-Addae noted that Olam has implemented a number of CSR projects, noting “Olam is involved in a lot of farmer training programs as well as providing implements and tools to ensure higher farmer incomes.”
She added that the company regularly supports the community and donates cement to rural communities, explaining that the company also donated motorcycles to security agencies to check smuggling.
She announced that the company is currently involved in projects at the Kakum and DIA national parks.
 By Ampem Gyeke-Darko
