Cocoa supply chain angst and the Ebola Private Sector Mobilization Group (EPSMG)

Cocoa.

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...Of course, the Ebola epidemic is not only affecting the cocoa supply chain. Liberia is a big exporter of  rubber and iron ore. Guinea’s main export is aluminium ore, while Sierra Leone is major exporter of iron ore, titanium ore and cocoa.

A group of major employers in Liberia have formed an organisation, the Ebola Private Sector Mobilisation Group (EPSMG), to help combat the spread of the virus.

The group represents 45 the largest private employers in West Africa including: ArcelorMittal Liberia, Equatorial Palm Oil, Exxon Mobil, Golden Veroleum, Putu Iron Ore Mining, Total Liberia, Monurent, Aureus Mining Company, Chevron and Price Waterhouse Coopers.

Marcus Wleh, head of external affairs and corporate responsibility at ArcelorMittal Liberia, who chairs the EPSMG, said the group will focus its activities on four areas of concern: social mobilisation and awareness, logistics, public partnership and early recovery.

Apparently, this kind of private sector activity is unprecedented in Liberia. Dr Lawrence Bropleh, head of legal affairs and corporate communications at Lonestar MTN, said: “Everyone asks what the private sector is doing, but for the first time we have a cohesive and holistic effort from the private sector to help the fight against Ebola.”