Ghana Kuapa Kokoo Fairtrade

Region and Country

Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo, Central, Eastern, Western, and Volta Regions, Ghana

Story

Ghana is the second largest cacao exporter in the world. Cacao is mainly cultivated in the country’s forested areas.

Kuapa Kokoo, which means ‘good cocoa farming’ in Twi, is a cocoa-growing co-operative set up in 1993 by a number of leading cocoa farmers who recognized the opportunity to organise farmers and found a company to market their own cocoa. The co-operative is also co-owner of the Divine Chocolate Company in the UK which markets chocolate products made from their own cocoa beans.

The organization holds around 100,000 registered members, of which 32% are women. Members of Kuapa Kokoo are predominantly small-holders highly reliant on cocoa income and living in remote and deprived parts of the country. In particular, most of the cocoa-growing villages do not have access to healthcare, clean drinking water, or electricity.

Kuapa Kokoo became Fairtrade certified in 1995. For the sales of certified beans, Kuapa receives a Fairtrade Premium to invest in cash payments to individual farmers, farmer training, community infrastructure and projects and organisational strengthening.

Harvest

September – March (main harvest) May-August (mid-crop)

Genetics

Ghanaian cocoa is predominantly a West African Amelonado of Brazilian origin.

Post Harvesting Process

Cocoa beans are fermented in heaps on banana leaves on the ground at the plantation site. Fermentation takes place during 5 – 8 days. Afterwards, the beans are dried on raised reed  mats. The beans are turned regularly by hand.

Flavour

This cocoa has a rich chocolate base frequently accompanied by notes of coffee and nuts (coconut) and bitter wood.