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Kuapa Kokoo is a large and complex organisation working to improve the lives and prospects of cocoa farmers in Ghana. Its approach to tackling the worst forms of child labour is one of its key priorities and the following report details how this and other issues are managed to ensure the co-operative's standards are maintained.
Child Labour in Ghana
It is common practice in Ghana for cocoa farmers to engage family labour (both old and young) in the production of cocoa. The practice is widely seen as a way of training the young ones to take over from their parents when they are old. However in some cases, children are made to undertake activities that might be detrimental to their development and education.
Kuapa Kokoo as a Fairtrade certified organisation takes this issue of child development and protection from exploitation by adults seriously and as such has invested heavily in programs that promote the wellbeing of children.
For example the cooperative has used a substantial part of its Fairtrade premiums to build schools in some communities it operates in to promote the development of children. Also the cooperative has together with other like-minded organisations sought funding to organize kids camps, webcasts, video conferences etc. to ensure that children in rural Ghana are abreast with the happenings in the world.
Kuapa Kokoo has also engaged members at different forums to educate them on the issue of hazardous and the worst forms of child labour. For example in May 2009, the cooperative consulted the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment (now Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare) to help it in drafting a child labour policy. This policy document was presented and adopted at the 15th Annual Delegates Conference (the highest decision making body) in Kumasi.
Programmes Instituted to Fight Hazardous and the Worst Forms of Child Labour
Kuapa Kokoo has a multi- faceted response to preventing and responding to unsafe practices generally, and the worst forms of child labour in member societies and operational depots across regions we operate in. Some of the programs are:
- Kuapa Kokoo Internal Control System has been set up to monitor and promote compliance with Fairtrade standards at all levels of the organisation. It involves the regular internal checks on member farms by cluster supervisors to ensure compliance with Fairtrade labour and environmental standards. With the help of these internal checks, Kuapa is able to identify risks and problems and deal with them appropriately.
- Kuapa Kokoo is in the process of training and assisting societies to develop Community Action Plans (CAPs) to identify the needs of the communities and develop strategies and appropriate skills in address them.
- Kuapa Kokoo has developed a child labour awareness Campaign Program which will increase the level of sensitization among its members and improve their knowledge on issues of child labour and worst forms of child labour.
- An Environmental Programme which educates members and workers on occupational health and safety issues has been put in place. Currently a consultant has been engaged to develop a Health and Safety Policy for members.
- Kuapa Kokoo is investing in a training program for 10,000 members in ten districts to improve awareness and promote the safe handling of agro-chemicals and avoid the use of children in the handling of hazardous chemicals.
- Kuapa Kokoo has a remediation team which responds directly to any incidence of child labour identified by KKICS or other sources. A remediation fund exists to provide resources to act in all cases identified.
- Provision has been made for a scholarship scheme for the wards of members who are able to get admissions into tertiary institutions.
Annually, Kuapa Kokoo invests over US$1 million towards these integrated activities. The activities are funded from the Fairtrade social premiums, contributions from Divine Chocolate and direct grants.
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