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In the early 1990's, the structural adjustment program involved the liberalisation of the cocoa market in Ghana. A number of leading farmers, including a visionary farmer representative on the Ghana Cocoa Board, Nana Frimpong Abrebrese, came to realise that they had the opportunity to organize farmers, to take on the internal marketing function. This would mean that they could set up a company, to sell their own cocoa to the Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC), the state-owned company that would continue to be the single exporter of Ghana cocoa.
These farmers pooled resources to set up Kuapa Kokoo, a farmers' co-op, which would trade its own cocoa, and thus manage the selling process more efficiently than the government cocoa agents. The name "Kuapa Kokoo" in the local language, Twi, means "Good Cocoa Farmers Company". Their motto is "Pa Pa Paa" which means "the best of the best of the best".
The organisation is for farmers and set up by them with the mission to effect:
- increased power and representation within the market for the farmers
- social, economic and political empowerment
- enhanced women's participation in all its affairs
- environmentally sustainable production processes
Kuapa Kokoo weighs, bags and transports the cocoa to market and carries out all the necessary legal paperwork for its members. Kuapa strives to ensure that all its activities are transparent, accountable and democratic.
It doesn't cheat the farmers by using inaccurate weighing scales, as other buying agents often do, and because it operates so efficiently, it can pass on the savings to its members. After seeing the benefits Kuapa gains for its members, more and more farmers want to join and the association now has upwards of 20,000 members organised in approximately 1200 village societies.
In 1998 the Kuapa Kokoo farmers launched their own Fair Trade chocolate bar called Divine - a unique move to bridge the gap between cocoa farmer and consumer.
Check out our Kuapa Kokoo product selection.
Bamboula Ltd. is an importer and wholesaler of contemporary home accessories, gifts, and handcrafted jewelry made by artisans in Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Uganda and Tanzania. Purchasing locally made, beautiful handcrafted products for fair prices, Bamboula Ltd. is a longstanding supporter of the Fair Trade movement.
The extensive collection of products imported by Bamboula Ltd. highlights Africa's indigenous artistic talent in design and craftsmanship. The company was established in the 1970's, to give greater market exposure to the handcraft traditions of African artisans while creating more opportunities for employment and economic development in Africa. Today, over 100 artisans produce items for Bamboula Ltd.
Check out our Bamboula product selection.
Global Mama's mission is to work directly with women in economically depressed regions of Africa. Global Mamas aims to give these women the means to establish economic independence through the creation of unique craft products that appeal to the global market. Through helping to reduce the economic inequality of women by significantly increasing the revenues and profits of woman-owned businesses in Africa, Global Mamas aims to increase employer wages, generate new jobs and consequently improve the standard of living.
Sales of Global Mama's products provide dignity and pride to African women who are as a result able to earn a sustainable salary through the production of handmade batik products. As a strong advocate and supporter of Fair Trade practices, Global Mamas pays the women what is considered a "living wage". Remarkably, this wage is 10 times that of Ghana's minimum wage. By helping women to help themselves, Global Mamas is taking small steps towards helping end Africa's dependence on foreign aid and creating a sustainable society.
Check out our Global Mama's product selection.
to Global Exchange Fair Trade Program
