Uniting cocoa farmers’ voices: Introducing the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers & Marketing Association

^{Voting takes place to elect the executives for the newly formed Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association.}

The Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association, which is the first of its kind in Ghana, is an umbrella body comprising 73 cooperative unions from nine cocoa-growing regions in the country. Its goal is to increase the representation of cocoa farmers at all levels of decision-making in the cocoa sector.

Solidaridad has facilitated the establishment of the association as part of its effort to amplify the voices of cocoa farmers. The cocoa association's creation was achieved through the RECLAIM Sustainability! programme, in collaboration with Ghana's Department of Cooperatives and partner organizations, including TrustAfrica, the World Cocoa Farmers Organisation (WCFO) and Agriterra.

"The formation of this apex body marks the beginning of a new era for cooperatives in the cocoa sector. It is a significant step towards building an inclusive and sustainable cocoa value chain where farmers' interests, voices, and rights are represented and heard in decision-making at all levels," says Seth Kankam Nuamah, Programme Manager for Solidaridad's RECLAIM Sustainability! programme in West Africa.

A unified response to a fragmented past

Prior to the establishment of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association, the Ghanaian cocoa farmers' cooperative unions operated independently and in isolation.

The unions were composed of cooperatives within a region, and due to their fragmented and uncoordinated nature, they were unable to effectively engage at different decision-making levels within the cocoa value chain.

As a result, individual unions often received attention rather than the collective interests of Ghana's cocoa farming community. The newly formed umbrella organization aims to advocate for the broader cocoa producing community, with a focus on stable prices, government interventions and services, land rights and living incomes for cocoa producers.

Over time, several organizations had recognized the need for unified representation, and partnered with cooperatives in an effort to initiate the establishment of a national cocoa association-efforts that are finally bearing fruit with the creation of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association.

Active engagement and hard work lead to the national cooperative

The establishment of the association comes 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.

Then in 2023, Solidaridad partnered with Ghana's Department of Cooperatives to further strengthen cocoa farmers' organizations and support the establishment of a national association to represent cocoa farmers' interests. In January of 2024, this partnership was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Following the MOU, a series of nationwide training workshops were organized for cooperative leaders that focused on governance and leadership. The training modules covered 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 better manage their cooperatives 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 diverse and valuable insights from participating stakeholders.

Executives elected to lead the association

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.

Issifu Issaka, the association's president, emphasized its role as a voice for cocoa farmers to advocate for their own welfare, address challenges, and improve livelihoods through collaboration with stakeholders. He pledged his commitment to ensure 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.

The landmark achievement is a testament to the power of collaboration. By uniting with government agencies, civil society organizations, and international partners, Ghanaian cocoa farmers have taken a decisive step towards a more just and prosperous future for themselves and their communities.

About the RECLAIM Sustainability! programme

The RECLAIM Sustainability! programme is a five-year programme that seeks to promote an inclusive, sustainable trade and value chain in which the interests, voices and rights of farmers, workers and citizens are represented and heard in decision-making.

The programme is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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