Accra: Smallholder cocoa farmers in Ghana are poised to gain a stronger voice in decision-making processes within the cocoa sector, with the establishment of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association. Through this Association, cocoa producers are consolidating their efforts and creating an effective advocacy organization for a stronger voice at the community, national, and international level.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Association is the first of its kind in Ghana and acts as an umbrella body comprising 75 Cooperative Unions from nine cocoa-growing regions in the country. The goal is to increase the representation of cocoa farmers at all levels of decision-making in the cocoa sector. Solidaridad facilitated the establishment of the Association as part of its effort to amplify the voices of cocoa farmers.
The Association was created through the RECLAIM Sustainability! programme, in collaboration with the Department of Cooperatives and partner organizations, including the World Cocoa Farmers Organisation (WCFO) and Agriterra. Mr. Seth Kankam Nuamah, Programme Manager for the RECLAIM Sustainability! programme in West Africa, said that the formation of this apex body marks the beginning of a new era for cooperatives in the cocoa sector. It is a step towards building an inclusive and sustainable cocoa value chain where farmers' interests, voices, and rights are represented in decision-making at all levels.
Prior to the establishment of the Association, cocoa farmers' Cooperative Unions operated independently and in isolation. The Unions were composed of cooperatives within a region, and due to their fragmented nature, they were unable to engage effectively at different decision-making levels within the cocoa value chain. As a result, individual unions often received attention rather than the collective interests of the cocoa farming community.
The newly formed umbrella organization aims to advocate for the broader cocoa-producing community, focusing on stable prices, government interventions and services, land rights, and living incomes for cocoa producers. Over time, several organizations recognized the need for unified representation and partnered with cooperatives to initiate the establishment of a national cocoa Association, efforts that were finally bearing fruit with the creation of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association.
The Association was established after a series of extensive training workshops on leadership and governance and stakeholder engagements at different levels. Since 2022, Solidaridad, in partnership with the WCFO and Agriterra, has worked to equip smallholder cocoa farmers and farmer groups in Ghana with knowledge, resources, and the skills needed to advocate for their rights and ensure their active participation in decision-making processes within the cocoa value chain.
In 2023, Solidaridad partnered with the Department of Cooperatives to further strengthen cocoa farmers' organizations and support the establishment of a national association to represent cocoa farmers' interests. In January 2024, this partnership was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
A series of nationwide training workshops were organized for cooperative leaders focused on governance and leadership with modules covering essential areas such as cooperative governance, strategic planning, leadership skills, organizational conflict management, business communications, and savings mobilization and credit management. At these training sessions, leaders acquired the tools to manage their cooperatives better and train their members.
A significant outcome of these engagements was the development of a Gender and Social Inclusion (GESI) policy, written in collaboration with the cooperatives, to promote the integration of gender-affirmative action into cocoa cooperatives' bylaws. The formalization of the national association was preceded by a national stakeholders' meeting that brought together key players within the cocoa sector.
This event was jointly organized by Solidaridad, the World Cocoa Farmers Organization, Agriterra Ghana, and the Department of Co-operatives, with participants from cocoa cooperative unions, the Ghana Co-operative Council, Ghana Cocoa Board, academic institutions, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Fairtrade Africa, Rainforest Alliance, Rikolto, SOCODEVI, and the Africa Ambassador for Credit Union Association. The stakeholders' meeting set the stage for the successful establishment of the apex body and provided a platform to exchange ideas, explore collective bargaining opportunities for cocoa cooperatives, and gain valuable insights from participating stakeholders.
The journey to establishing the apex body culminated on 1 November 2024, with the election of executives in the Ashanti region of Ghana. Thirteen executives, including six women, were elected from a body of 210 candidates. The fair representation of women within the executive body aligns with the Gender and Social Inclusion Policy developed with the cooperatives.
Comfort Kwaasibea, the newly elected second vice president, pledged her commitment to women's representation and promised continued advocacy for women to take active roles in leadership. 'For too long, women have been disadvantaged in our cooperatives, but the training from Solidaridad and the gender-affirmative action they championed has given women like me the courage and opportunity to step forward. I will use my position to encourage more women to participate actively for our voices to be heard at all levels,' she said.
Mr. Issifu Issaka, the Association's President, emphasized its role as a voice for cocoa farmers to advocate for their welfare, address challenges, and improve livelihoods through collaboration with stakeholders. He pledged his commitment to ensuring the success of the association.
The Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association has completed its registration and formalized its operations in full compliance with Ghanaian laws. This marks a crucial step towards a more equitable and sustainable cocoa value chain that benefits all stakeholders.
Following their assumption of office, the newly elected executives initiated a series of stakeholder engagements as part of their efforts to foster strategic partnerships within Ghana's cocoa industry. The initiative began with a visit to Solidaridad West Africa, where the team discussed challenges within the cocoa sector, potential strategic solutions, and aligning the association's long-term vision.
The team also engaged the World Cocoa Foundation, the C´te d'Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative, and the Embassy of the Netherlands in Ghana, their funding partner, to express their gratitude for the support received so far and discuss future collaborations. All stakeholders expressed optimism about the association's potential to drive transformative change in the cocoa sector and pledged their commitment to supporting its objectives.