AFRICA
KOA SWITZERLAND AND GHANA: PROCUREMENT WITH PURPOSE IN THE HEART OF WEST AFRICA
KOA IMPACT GHANA
KOA IMPACT GHANA PROJECT DIRECTED BY: THOMAS HARDY
In the vibrant markets of Ghana, negotiation is as much a cultural art form as it is a practical skill. For Dr. Jennifer Otsiwaba Monny, Supply Chain and Procurement Director at Koa Switzerland and Ghana, it was a skill learned early, watching her mother bargain with dexterity and precision among stalls overflowing with goods in the vibrant markets of Ghana. At the time, she did not know it would shape her career, but those early lessons in weighing quality against value now shape her leadership at a company redefining how procurement can drive social and environmental impact.
Jennifer joined Koa in December 2019, bringing with her a philosophy that procurement should be more than a transactional back-office function. For her, it is a strategic driver of purpose, a way to connect suppliers, empower farming communities, and enable the smooth functioning of every department that relies on her team’s work. “This role gives me a deep sense of purpose,” she reflects, “because it’s not just about sourcing materials, it’s about making sure our supply chain creates value at every stage.”
Koa is one of the few companies in West Africa working directly with smallholder cocoa farmers to source cocoa pulp and juice, a by-product once discarded during cocoa processing. By creating a market for this overlooked resource, the company has opened up a new stream of income for its network of around 5,000 farmers, while reducing waste and ensuring that its supply chain is fully traceable and free from child labour. The model is strengthened through partnerships with sustainability-focused suppliers such as Maia Global, whose recyclable bulk packaging meets strict
hygiene requirements and reduces Koa’s overall carbon footprint. They also work closely with local partners like Everpack Ghana Limited, who supply them with food-grade personal protective materials for their factory and farm operations. Jennifer highlights, “sourcing locally not only reduces import dependence and emissions but also strengthens Ghana’s own manufacturing sector. That’s procurement with purpose; every partnership should create value inside and outside the business.
Lastly, they have put in place structured supplier performance monitoring and evaluation tools. These ensure ongoing compliance with our environmental and social standards, reinforce strong partnerships with like-minded suppliers, and encourage the “kaizen way of life.”
The company’s approach goes well beyond purchasing. By meeting farmers halfway to collect raw materials, Koa reduces their workload and increases participation among them. Training in good agricultural practices, infrastructural development in farming communities, and the creation of local jobs keep more value and impact at the source. Social interventions under their CSR initiative called Koa Life extend this impact to the next generation through mentorship programmes and the supply of school materials to the children of farmers, with the aim of reducing child labour and broadening prospects for their future.
Balancing cost efficiency with quality is a familiar challenge in procurement, but at Koa, the equation is approached differently. As Procurement Lead, Jennifer has shifted Koa’s focus from chasing the lowest price to creating long-term value. “For me, cost efficiency isn’t about cutting
corners,” she explains. “It’s about making sourcing decisions that stand the test of time - financially, operationally, and environmentally.” To achieve this, she introduced a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) approach, assessing durability, environmental impact, logistics, and operational fit alongside cost. She has also prioritised building long-term supplier relationships. “When we work closely with partners over time, we build transparency, create room for innovation, and share growth,” Jennifer notes. “That’s what turns procurement from transactional into strategic.”
In one notable example, the company’s rental pooling model with Maia Global allows for bulk purchasing of recyclable packaging with staggered payments, reducing both costs and reliance on single-use materials.
Innovation in procurement also extends to
Our Planet Your Profit
Maia Global is an integrated provider of re-usable bulk liquid solutions, including aseptic and non aseptic linerbags.
We deliver sustainable solutions to be the most effective, innovative and environmentally friendly partner in the industry
how and where the company processes its materials. Their solar-powered Community Mobile Processing Unit (CMPU) has transformed operations by bringing processing closer to remote farming communities, reducing transport times and spoilage while driving Koa’s reach deeper into rural areas. The procurement of this decentralised facility required a blend of locally sourced components and specialised international equipment, ensuring connectivity in the field for real-time processing and quality checks. By training local in-house technicians to install and maintain the unit, Koa ensured its sustainability without dependence on overseas support.
Other forward-looking projects include biochar production, which turns cocoa husks into carbon-rich soil enhancers that sequester carbon and improve crop yields, as well as their dynamic agroforestry programme, which helps farmers diversify
Focus Industries
Dairy, fruit and juice concentrates, sauces, Edible and Olive oils, tomato paste and purees.
Maia Global
Maia Global is a fully integrated solutions provider who supplies liners and re-usable packaging solutions for bulk products. We supply aseptic and non-aseptic liner bags from 1 liter up to 1500 liter ( for IBC, drums, Bag in Box, etc) . Our focus industries are: Dairy, fruit and juice concentrates, sauces, Olive oil and edible oils, tomato paste and purees.
Our re-usable packaging solutions, flexible and collapsible IBC’s, are ideal for transporting your products into the B2B industry. All our packaging solutions are designed to deliver cost effective, functional and environmentally conscious logistics solutions.
Our unique in depth understanding of the linerbags, packaging, logistics and food production industry will support you to use the right packaging solutions for any application.
As we offer the complete packaging solution we are the ONE STOP SHOP!
info@maia-global.com www.maia-global.com
KOA IMPACT GHANA PROCUREMENT
beyond cocoa. Mangoes, ginger, pigeon pea, and other crops are introduced alongside cocoa to create year-round income streams, with procurement teams sourcing seedlings, agricultural inputs, and providing training services to support the transition. As Jennifer puts it, “Procurement here isn’t just about buying, it’s about enabling innovation and making sure our farmers are future-ready.”
Responsible sourcing is not a marketing phrase at Koa; it is embedded into their operating model. All farmers are digitally registered, with payments recorded on blockchain for transparency and verification. This provides proof of payment to farmers and reassures partners that Koa’s claims of ethical practice are backed by data. Suppliers must meet strict standards on child labour, safe working conditions, and environmental protection, with periodic site visits conducted by Koa to ensure compliance. A grievance mechanism allows Koa’s farmers to raise concerns, reinforcing accountability.
Technology is playing an increasingly
important role in building efficiency and visibility. While Koa is still a mediumsized business and not all systems are fully integrated, the company has made significant strides. Digital purchase order tracking, procurement dashboards, and automated RFQs have improved speed and transparency, while integration with production schedules ensures sourcing matches operational needs. Mobile money payments for farmers provide fast, reliable transactions that reinforce trust. Plans are underway to create a fully integrated ERP system that will link procurement directly with traceability and sustainability databases, offering real-time oversight from farm to export.
Waste reduction sits at the heart of Koa’s mission. By collecting cocoa pulp and juice previously left to spoil, the company has turned waste into an asset for both farmers and food producers. Closedloop water systems, composting, and recyclable packaging further minimise the environmental impact of operations. Bulk purchasing and reusable materials cut costs while reducing emissions. Their environmental CSR initiative, Koa Green, extends waste awareness to employees, farmers, and communities, with initiatives ranging from reducing single-use plastics at the factory to promoting waste reduction and encouraging recycling.
In all, this holistic sustainability-driven approach is only possible through close collaboration between procurement and other departments. Jennifer rejects the outdated notion of procurement as a support service. “Procurement used to be seen as a back-office function,” she says. “Here, it’s a strategic enabler. We work closely with operations, marketing, quality, and technical teams to make sure every decision aligns with our sustainability goals.” From the global sourcing of food-grade operational materials and equipment to scheduling of equitable production cycles that give opportunity for all farmers to supply us with their raw materials, procurement is part of the conversation from the start, ensuring decisions are both efficient and purposeful.
Looking ahead, Jennifer’s ambitions are bold and deeply personal. Over the next five years, she aims to deepen her expertise as a procurement leader by driving innovation, strengthening global supplier networks, and building systems that set benchmarks for ethical and sustainable supply chains.
She continues, “For Koa, that ambition translates into expanding supplier engagement, strengthening partnerships with farmers, and possibly extending our networks into other agricultural value chains.” Digital integration will be scaled up to provide complete real-time visibility across the supply chain, from the smallest farming community to international export. Ultimately, she says, “I want procurement here to be a storytelling engine, every
decision telling a story of equity, resilience, and shared value.”
The story Koa is telling is already a compelling one. It is about transforming waste into opportunity, embedding ethical practice into every transaction, and building a model where business growth is inseparable from community benefit. Under Jennifer’s leadership, procurement at Koa Switzerland and Ghana is proving that supply chains can be more than efficient - they can be transformative. “It’s not just about getting goods in and out,” Dr. Monny concludes. “It’s about building a model where business growth and community benefit go hand in hand. That’s what procurement with purpose looks like.”
www.koa-impact.com
KOA IMPACT GHANA
Everpack – A Leader in Quality Tissue and Food Packaging
Everpack is a Ghana-based manufacturer specialized in paper tissue and food packaging products. We serve the retail, manufacturing, and hospitality sectors with a commitment to consistent quality, hygiene, and reliability. Our solutions are designed for practical, high-volume environments where performance matters.
We are a dedicated team of professionals focused on delivering packaging solutions that meet the everyday demands of modern businesses. Our product range includes hygienic tissue, foodsafe wraps, and disposable packaging items, all designed to uphold cleanliness, functionality, and presentation. Everpack operates from advanced production facilities that integrate modern technology with strict quality control processes. We prioritize high-grade materials and efficient systems to ensure that our products meet both international standards and the practical needs of our customers.
Every item we produce reflects our attention to detail and our commitment to excellence.
What makes Everpack stand out is our collaborative approach. We take time to understand our clients’ operations, challenges, and expectations. This allows us to deliver packaging solutions that support productivity, uphold hygiene standards, and strengthen brand image. As the packaging industry evolves, so does Everpack. We continue to invest in innovation, sustainability, and customer partnerships to remain at the forefront of the sector.
Everpack is more than a packaging supplier. We are a trusted partner, committed to delivering longterm value, dependable products, and exceptional service.
