Kuapa Kokoo
Kuapa Kokoo is an umbrella cooperative. In the Twi language of Ghana, Kuapa Kokoo means ‘good cocoa farmer’. Their motto is ‘Pa Pa Paa’meaning ‘best of the best’. After the Ghana cocoa market became more reformed, in 1993, Kuapa Kokoo was founded and became Fairtrade Certified in 1996. Kuapa Kokoo is the only farmer-owened organisation amongst all of the private companies allowed to trade
cocoa as they have set up their own company. The farmers of Kuapa Kokoo are all members of village societies who sell their cocoa to the government cocoa board. Practically 100% of the farmer’s income is from the cocoa crop.
As Kuapa Kokoo has been Fairtrade certified, it is able to improve the lives of its farming members by ensuring prompt payments, providing
training, having its own credit loan scheme, access to market information as well as funding community projects from the Fairtrade Premium which is generated through Fairtrade sales. Another positive factor of Kuapa Kokoo is that the participation of women is actively promoted. There have been seminar and workshops introduced to help women develop leadership skills and increase their
income by teaching skills such as soap making using the potash produced from burnt cocoa husks.
cocoa as they have set up their own company. The farmers of Kuapa Kokoo are all members of village societies who sell their cocoa to the government cocoa board. Practically 100% of the farmer’s income is from the cocoa crop.
As Kuapa Kokoo has been Fairtrade certified, it is able to improve the lives of its farming members by ensuring prompt payments, providing
training, having its own credit loan scheme, access to market information as well as funding community projects from the Fairtrade Premium which is generated through Fairtrade sales. Another positive factor of Kuapa Kokoo is that the participation of women is actively promoted. There have been seminar and workshops introduced to help women develop leadership skills and increase their
income by teaching skills such as soap making using the potash produced from burnt cocoa husks.
The impact that Fairtrade has had on the farmers involved in Kuapa Kokoo is very beneficial. Almost 50,000 small-scale cocoa growers and farmers are represented by Kuapa Kokoo and for each of Kuapa Kokoo’s Fairtrade sales, the organisation receives US$2,300/tonne for organic beans (Fairtrade Minimum Price) as well as US$200/tonne (Fairtrade Premium).
Over the last 14 years, the Fairtrade Premium funded projects have included:
- Training programs in management and leadership skills
- The building and completion of four schools, two day-care centres and two mobile cinemas
- The purchase of scales and machines
- The construction of a warehouse
- The creation of a credit union which provides members with access to credit and banking services
- Development of alternative income schemes alongside cocoa farming including tie-dye textiles, soap making, corn milling and snail
farming
- The purchase of mobile health clinics
- The drilling of 174 boreholes to provide clean drinking water access
- The construction of public toilets
Over the last 14 years, the Fairtrade Premium funded projects have included:
- Training programs in management and leadership skills
- The building and completion of four schools, two day-care centres and two mobile cinemas
- The purchase of scales and machines
- The construction of a warehouse
- The creation of a credit union which provides members with access to credit and banking services
- Development of alternative income schemes alongside cocoa farming including tie-dye textiles, soap making, corn milling and snail
farming
- The purchase of mobile health clinics
- The drilling of 174 boreholes to provide clean drinking water access
- The construction of public toilets