STORY; NANA SIFA TWUM, Bourneville Place near Birmingham in the UK

Cadbury Cocoa Products Limited in the United Kingdom in conjunction with Kuapa Kokoo has built 911 wells to provide potable water for more than 150 thousand people in cocoa growing areas in the country.

More than 100 communities from cocoa growing areas in the country have also benefited in various forms from the company’s partnership with Ghana, which is aimed at helping to improve income levels of cocoa farmers.

During an interaction with Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Professor Kwaku Danso Boafo on his visit to the Cadbury factory site in Bourneville Place near Birmingham in the UK, The Head of Global Corporate Responsibility of Cadbury, Mrs Alison Ward, explained that Cadbury owns it as a corporate responsibility to partner with Ghana to assist in her developmental programmes.

The visit afforded the High Commissioner and management of the company, the opportunity to reinforce the already existing socio-economic relationship between Ghana and the Company.

Around 70 percent of cocoa beans - the main raw material- purchased by Cadbury globally comes from Ghana. January this year, the company marked its 100th year anniversary of cocoa trading between the company and Ghana.

The company spent 30 million pounds out of a total of 45 million pounds spent on social amenities globally in Ghana alone over the last decade.

Mrs. Ward noted that the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership in Ghana comprising representatives from Ghanaian government ministries, farmer organisations and development specialists has been set up to oversee programmes initiated by the company in Ghana.

She said a number of communities have been identifying their main development needs, including the construction of new school buildings or forming Cocoa Youth Clubs to encourage the next generation to remain with agriculture, particularly cocoa farming.

She noted that the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership programme is extending its activities to focus on improving farm income levels by developing farmer education programmes that explore best cocoa management practices leading to high quality and increased yields.

Mrs. Ward noted that the programme is exploring carbon reduction techniques to secure more sustainable cocoa farming. She also expressed the hope that by 2018, Cadbury estimates that, it will have made a demonstrable difference to the lives of around half a million Ghanaian farmers.

She said apart from helping to improve the income levels of cocoa farmers in Ghana, it has made plans to ensure good health and education for the people. According to the Cadbury official the Cadbury Foundation supports Digital Links International to provide ICT faculties and training in Ghana’s 38 Teacher Training Colleges to enable the Ghanaian child to participate actively in a global knowledge and economic prosperity.

“Cadbury has been working with the Participatory Development Associates (PDA) with the aim of supporting educational development in Ghanaian communities. Cadbury, the PDA and local communities are working to provide library facilities in Ghana”. She observed.

Mrs. Ward noted that six community libraries in Ewiadaso, Bomba, Menang, Obonsu, Odumasi and Attobrakrom are currently being built.” The company has also embarked on massive advertising programme, which has Ghana as the centre of attraction. The move is to help project Ghana to the rest of the world and also let the users of cocoa products around the globe have a feel of the place where cocoa comes from. The advertisement, which is shown on UK television channels and on billboards as well as in the newspapers, has a traditional Ghanaian concept, pictures and the Ghana national flag prominently displayed. Huge billboards depicting Ghanaian cocoa activities as well as the Ghana national flag are displayed all over the UK main commercial centers and transport terminals including the tube stations.

It is estimated that The UK receives over a million visitors from around the globe a day and there are also about 60 million inhabitants. The adverts will go a long way to help boost tourism and investment in Ghana and also offer some insight about Ghana’s cocoa to people who will want to learn more about Ghana.

Professor Danso Boafo expressed the gratitude of the government and people of Ghana to the management of the company and assured them of government’s cooperation and support.

He noted that the government of Ghana welcomes investors who will have plans to help develop the country, and described Cadbury’s example of community development in Ghana as laudable.

He said Ghanaian farmers were being encouraged with the provision of facilities by the government to ensure maximum and quality cocoa production.

The High Commissioner noted that the quality of the cocoa beans produced in Ghana would continue to be improved to meet the international standard of Cadbury. This according to him will strengthen the trading relationship between Ghana and Cadbury.