Fairtrade: Kuapa Kokoo, Ghana

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Cocoa-growing cooperative set up in 1993

Co-owner of Divine Chocolate Company

2013: over 87,000 members, 32% women

Farms average 6.8 hectares - 3/4 allocated to cocoa

Fairtrade certified in 1995

2012-13: Fairtrade accounted for 50% of Ghana's annual cocoa production

Premium of US$200 per tonnes is invested in a variety of things

Fairtrade Premium Projects

Health

Provision of pump wells and drilling of 348 bore holes for drinking water

Construction of 6 ventilated latrines in communities such as Bipoa

Provision of mosquito net to improve health

Mobile health services to 17 districts, serving over 200 societies

Education

Construction/refurbishment of 8 schools and a block of 6 classrooms

Construction of a 3-classroom block and teacher bungalow at Anakum - children won't have to travel so far to school

implementation of the Fairtrade Education Programme in 3 schools in Ghana and several others in the UK, connecting them through internet for cultural exchange (collaborating with Trading Vision)

Farmer support

Seminars and workshops to help farmers develop alternative means of livelihoods during the off-season

Employment of development officers to advise on good agricultural practices, set up training programmes in management and leadership skills, and organise HIV/AIDS workshops

Provision of new equipment such as scales and machines for cracking palm kernels - reducing reliance on scales on middlemen and reducing workload of women

Purchase of 2 mobile cinema vans for education programmes

Direct payment for farmers in the form of an end-of-bonus

Construction of warehousing at Tema port and 3 other warehouses to provide safe and ample space for cocoa storage

Community

Investment in 51 corn mills, one garri processor, oil palm extraction machines and processors, nut crackers, cutlasses

Construction of 2 day-care centres