By Elizabeth PUNSU
Kuapa Kokoo, a leading cooperative of cocoa farmers in the country, has announced an initial investment of GH₵5million to add value to its cocoa beans.
The move, it explains, aligns with evolving global trends in the cocoa industry. It also seeks to position the cooperative to remain competitive in the years to come.
To ensure the success of this initiative, Kuapa Kokoo’s National Executive Council (NEC), Board of Directors and management of Kuapa Kokoo Ltd. (KKL), in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Netherlands Trust Fund V, have developed a five-year strategic plan spanning 2024 to 2029.
Speaking at the cooperative’s 30th Annual General Meeting in Kumasi, President of Kuapa Kokoo Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Union Ltd (KKFU), James Agyekum Kwateng, reaffirmed the NEC and board’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for stakeholders and partners to work collaboratively toward achieving the strategic plan’s objectives.
“We believe our mission as a farmer-based cooperative—to produce and mobilise sustainable cocoa products to satisfy buyers and improve the livelihoods of our members—is the right step toward addressing the needs of all stakeholders. The National Executive Council and Board have pledged to provide the necessary resources, including human, financial and technological, to sustain excellence in the cocoa sector,” Mr. Kwateng stated.
As part of the strategic plan, Kuapa Kokoo intends to establish a cocoa processing company to add value to raw cocoa beans and maximise the profits from farmers’ efforts.
Mr. Kwateng noted that representatives from Kuapa Kokoo Limited (KKL) and KKFU recently undertook a learning visit to several renowned cocoa processing companies in the country to study their operations and replicate successful practices.
Commitment to ESG principles
Solomon Boateng, Executive Secretary of KKFU, emphasised the cooperative’s dedication to upholding environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles. He revealed that KKFU has not only developed an ESG policy document, but has also begun implementing various programmes and projects to support these principles.
“The ESG Policy document is our promise to uphold values that matter—caring for our planet, supporting our people and maintaining integrity in our operations. This roadmap integrates responsible practices into both our daily activities and long-term strategies,” Mr. Boateng explained.
He added that KKFU is actively collaborating with like-minded organisations to implement sustainability initiatives. Ongoing projects include Sankofa, Way to Go, Organic Farming, Traceability, Mapping/EUDR Implementation, Labour Rights Advocacy, and Gender Mainstreaming through adult literacy programmes.
