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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 24 February 2010 17:01 |
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My name is Elias Mohammed and I am the recorder of Bayerebon No.3 Kuapa Kokoo society. My society is in the Atwima Mponua district of Ghana. I also double as the Area President of Bibiani operational area.
After the liberalization of the cocoa sector in Ghana, many companies sprang up. I sold my cocoa to some of them and realized they were no different from the government company we dealt with in the past. A friend of mine from the Sefwi area visited me one day in my village and told about Kuapa Kokoo and the fact that it is owned my farmers. It was the first time I was hearing something like that! I quickly informed some of my friends in my village and we went to the Kuapa office to request that a society be opened for us. Bayerebon No.3 society was then born.
Kuapa Kokoo is about the best thing that has happened to Bayerebon No.3 in the last ten years. Our dilapidated primary school building was pulled down about seven years ago and a new six classroom block with a library, head teacher’s office and store constructed for our wards. Not long ago, another three classroom block to house the Junior High School was also put up by Kuapa Kokoo. This school now serves six other communities nearby. It has well over 600 pupils with 16 teachers.
Bayerebon No.3 has no electricity and therefore it is very difficult to get kids to learn in the evenings. Through the efforts of Kuapa Kokoo, Miss Karen Bridges a teacher from the UK came to live with us for over two years. She taught in the school and helped us to wire the entire school building. She bought the school a generator and some other teaching and learning materials. Today our wards can learn in the evenings when the generator is switched on. At first we used to record 0% in the Basic Education Certificate Examination but just last year we record 65%. Isn’t that great? Thank you Kuapa!
Membership of Kuapa Kokoo has enabled me to up a building to house my family. I have also been able to set up my second wife in business. She has a “chop bar” where she sells food. My first wife is a member of the women’s group and has enjoyed micro credit from Kuapa Kokoo which she petty trades with. My children are in school and I hope to educate them to the highest level.
We are very grateful to Kuapa Kokoo. Kuapa! Pa Pa Paa! |
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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 10 February 2010 10:20 |
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My name is Fatima Ali and I the recorder of Alikrom Kuapa Kokoo Society. My society can be found in the Western Region of Ghana precisely in the Akontonbra District. I have been a member of Kuapa Kokoo for the nine years.
I joined Kuapa Kokoo after completing my senior secondary education. Most of my friends tried to talk me out of my decision to become a farmer because in their view, farming was the preserve of illiterates. I told my father who is also a farmer and a member of Kuapa Kokoo about my decision to join him and he gladly agreed to guide me. He told me about the fact that Kuapa was a cooperative and that members have a say in the way things are done. I must say that I was encouraged to join... The thought of farmers having a say in the way a company is managed actually intrigued me!
Today, I am a proud owner of a 5 -acre farm. Last season, I was able to harvest about twenty bags of cocoa. I was elected a recorder of my society about three years ago. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could hold such position. I am a woman and also very young but because of the training I have received from Kuapa Kokoo, I just know that I can achieve anything I put my mind to. Next year, I plan to contest for one of the National Executive Council (NEC) positions. I want to make history... I want to be the youngest NEC member!
Thanks to Kuapa Kokoo, my society Alikrom has a borehole and for the past seven years, we have been drinking clean water. Before we got this facility, we had to walk for miles to fetch water from a stream. I remember I once got sick and when i was taken to a hospital; my dad was told I had typhoid fever which is a water borne disease. Since we got this borehole, no one in my family has suffered from that illness.
I have been able to enrol my only child in a private school because I am now financially independent. My cocoa also weighs more in the Kuapa she! I also received bonuses from Kuapa. I have also helped my father to complete our house. We now live in a block house!
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 17 February 2010 22:01 |
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Written by Comfort
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Wednesday, 14 October 2009 17:40 |
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My name is Asamoah Ampofo. I became a member of Kuapa Kokoo in 2003 and I am currently a Recorder for the Amenase Society. Before joining Kuapa, I was selling my cocoa to other local buying companies who were just interested in buying the cocoa.
Kuapa Kokoo is however different. I realise that I receive a lot of bonuses on the cocoa I sell and through this I have been able to adequately take care of my wife and children. Again, Kuapa has on several occasions provided me as well as other farmers in my society with farming equipment like cutlasses to help us in our work. Every year I receive some commission for selling my cocoa to them and this has also gone a long way to equip me financially.
The Amenase society is made up of over two hundred cocoa farmers with more than half of the number being women. Together, we are able to sell more than 500 bags of cocoa for Kuapa and Fair trade every year. We are currently making efforts to increase our annual supply of cocoa and women within the society are encouraged to contribute and make inputs in discussions on issues.
What I admire most about Kuapa is the democracy. For once, cocoa farmers in this country have the opportunity to contribute to issues affecting them and collectively find solutions. At the just ended 15th Annual General Meeting we were provided with free medical screening and educated on the need to avoid child labour in our various communities. This goes a long way to prove the point I was making earlier that Kuapa, unlike the others, is not just interested in buying the cocoa from us but are also concerned about our welfare and that of our communities as well.
As the recorder for my society, I have also made it a point to reiterate the message on child labour to other farmers in my region. I advice them that it is not wrong to let the children help in the farm but rather, it is wrong to allow them work more than they should. The work should not interfere with their children's education.
I am very grateful to Kuapa and Fairtrade for giving cocoa farmers a voice and for making our families financially independent. What is more refreshing is that, we own a 45% share in Divine Chocolate in the United Kingdom. That gives us a lot of joy and fulfillment.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 03 December 2009 17:48 |
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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 14 October 2009 17:33 |
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I am Cecilia Appianim. I joined Kuapa Kokoo back in 1998 – the year that Divine was born. I am a cocoa farmer from Agona Swedru, in the Central Region of Ghana.
Coming from a community where women are not given the opportunity to partake in active decision making processes, being a member of Kuapa Kokoo has been an eye opener. I was attracted to Kuapa when I realised I could gain more in terms of bonuses paid for selling my cocoa, as well as sharing in development projects undertaken for my community. The income generating activities specially designed for women in my Kuapa society have also gone a long way to empower me financially.
I was elected National Financial Secretary of Kuapa Kokoo Union about three years ago. I work closely with the Treasurer to ensure that the finances of the union are in order. I contested with a man and had a land slide victory. I guess it is because everyone knows women can be better trusted with money than men! My job is very challenging but with the training I have received form Kuapa Kokoo, i have been able to handle it.
I have had the opportunity to travel to the United States of America on two occasions. On both occasions I had the chance to tell people about what fairtrade and the ownership of Divine Chocolate means to members of Kuapa Kokoo
My trip to US was an eye opener! I was able to see big supermarket chains that stock our Divine Chocolate! It was amazing and I felt really proud that my cocoa had been turned into something so sweet! Things were very different from what happens over here in Ghana. I met a lot of people who support fairtrade and Divine and I entreated then to buy more fairtrade so that villages like Asentem could enjoy good drinking, mobile clinics etc.
Ownership of Divine chocolate has enabled me to meet highly placed people I never imagined I will meet. Divine has indeed given us recognition in the chocolate world. This is evidenced in the way people trooped to the various centres to listen to me.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 03 December 2009 17:53 |
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