--- K. Ohemeng-Tinyase, Managing Director of Kuapa Kokoo

Kuapa Kokoo is a cocoa producer cooperative founded in Ghana in 1993 as a response to the liberalization of the cocoa market in Ghana. It represents a unique empowerment effort that enables small cocoa farmers to have a voice in government and attain more information regarding their dealings with cocoa buyers. Kuapa Kokoo is made up of village societies that elect committees and representatives at a regional level, who in turn elect representatives to the National Union. This Union represents farmers’ interests to government and industry bodies, and shares information that is beneficial to its members.

Kuapa Kokoo has been Fair Trade certified by Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) since 1996, and owns 45% of Divine Chocolate Ltd. and 33% of Divine Chocolate USA Inc., which sell Fair Trade Certified Divine and Dubble chocolates in the UK and US, respectively. This unique venture allows Kuapa Kokoo’s members to increase their profits from their cocoa and enhance their knowledge of the western chocolate market.

The Fair Trade price has enabled Kuapa Kokoo to establish various social and productive programs

Education.
The co-op has built four local schools.

Productive Investment.
The co-op purchased new equipment including scales that reduce farmers’ dependency on the scales of middlemen and machines for cracking palm kernels, which greatly reduce the workload of women. In addition, he co-op works to provide information about world market prices which protects members from unfair traders.

Credit Program.
Kuapa Kokoo formed a credit union, which provides members with access to credit and banking services.

Health.
Kuapa Kokoo organizes mobile health clinics for members, and the co-op used money from the Fair Trade premium to drill 174 boreholes to access potable water.