Kuapa Kokoo one of the biggest cocoa Marketing companies in Ghana says it is making significant strides in the fight to ensuring that child labour is eradicated from all cocoa producing area.
Speaking at the 23rd Annual Delegates Conference of the company in Kumasi, executive Secretary of Kuapa Kokoo Co-operative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Union LTD (KKFU) Nelson Adubofour revealed that ensuring child labour free cocoa producing areas is high on the company’s priority list.
The program was under the theme: “producing Ghana’s best cocoa bean, creating employment and reducing poverty to ensure social integration… our mandate as a Co-operative”
“Efforts to ensure that cocoa production is child labour-free is of high priority o KKFU and as result has fostered support from government, Cocoa partners and other like-minded local and international implementers in the elimination of child labour and worst forms of child Labour,” he said.
According to him, the KKFU child labour units through its five(5) year remediation plan is committed to ensuring that children at risk of entering into child labour are prevented, withdrawn and protected whiles cases identified on field or referrals are remediated by the unit.
Mr. Nelson Adubofour stated that over the course of the season, sensitisations and awareness programmes have been organized to educate farmers on the consequences of child Labour.
According to him, this has been done through posters developed around key concepts on permissible and hazardous work, playing recorded jingles on local radio stations, radio panel discussion on concepts, the use of community information Centers to deepen awareness by CCPC’s community membership education on child labour by field officers.
He added that to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of the awareness creation, new logistics like speakers, mixer, microphones and others accessories have been procured for the unit to improve upon their duties.
Mr. Nelson therefore appealed to the government to as part of it’s commitment to ensure the improvement of the agricultural sector, pay attention to farmers and make interventions to benefit them.
President of Kuapa Kokoo Co-operative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Union LTD, (KKFU) Madam Fatima Ali encouraged the youth particularly, the young women to participate in farming in order to be self dependent, grow domestic economy, enhance food security and have good standard of living in the future. Managing Director of Quality Control Company LTD of Cocobod,
Dr. Isaac Yaw Opoku who represented Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo entreated Ghanaians to consume cocoa Products to boost the price of cocoa.
According to him, if we patronize and consume our locally produced cocoa, the sector will reach a higher level, adding that there are many health benefits in cocoa consumption.
Source: otecfmghanacom/Kwaku Anane Jr.
