The
mother company of GAFCO Industrie-Bau
Nord AG (IBN), conceived a new design for integrated
agricultural processing complexes in developing countries in the
late 1950's.
This
integrated strategy was illustrated in the engineering designs
and feasibility studies prepared in 1962 for a "Tema Food
Complex" in Ghana: The complex was designed to integrate
several agricultural processing facilities.
The
plans necessitated that a wheat mill, an oil mill, a cocoa plant
and an animal feed mill be housed within its borders. Through
the efficient use of by-products and both forward and backward
integration, the former Tema Food Complex was intended to play
an important role in the provision of basic food products to the
citizens of Ghana.
It
was not until Ghana initiated a privatisation programme as part
of a free market-based economic reform package that IBN was able
to gain control over the former Tema Food Complex. In January
1995, an extensive rehabilitation programme was immediately started.
In
addition to submitting the highest performing bid to purchase
the former Tema Food Complex, IBN's bid was accepted for the following
reasons:
-
IBN's strategy for the redevelopment of the debilitated complex
into an integrated agricultural processing center, thus fulfilling
nearly its original purpose;
-
IBN's long term strategy to expand the integration has the potential
to revitalize the Ghanaian agro industrial sector;
-
IBN's commitment to develop the agricultural sector of Ghana
along the positive economic and social benefits of IBN's plan;
-
IBN's unique position to realize these goals due to the act
that it originally designed the complex and developed the integrated
strategy; and
-
IBN's expertise in agro-industrial engineering, production and
marketing in developing countries.
GAFCO's
history is reflected in the brand name and the symbol found on
all GAFCO's products: the Sankofa bird (pictured on the cover).
The Sankofa bird is a mystical character from Ghanaian history
that looks back to pick up what it has left behind.
