Danso Boafo Hailed The Efforts Of International Organisations Operating In Ghana

Story: Nana Sifa Twum, London.

Ghana's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo has hailed the efforts by some international oraganisations operating in Ghana for helping to improve the lot of the people especially those in the rural areas of the country.

He said the recent interventions by the Kraft and Cadbury to provide facilities in cocoa farming communities in Ghana is commendable.

Professor Danso Boafo was speaking at a reception held in London to launch activities to mark the Fairtrade Fortnight to raise money in support of a solar panel projects in some Ghanaian cocoa faming communities.

Kraft and Cadbury is committing twenty percent (20%) of the proceeds from Fairtrade-branded Dairy Milk products sold during Fairtrade Fortnight to the provision solar panels in twenty-seven cocoa faring communities in Ghana. The aim is to help solve electricity power problems within these communities. In all more than 9500 household in the selected communities will benefit from over one thousand solar lanterns while schools and medical facilities such as clinics will also be provided with solar power systems for their activities. The project which is in conjunction with Fairtrade will benefit 20, 000 people, 21 schools 100 schoolteachers and 4, 500 students in the communities. The event will be Feb. 28 through March 13 and will be supported by online activities and product samples.

He pointed out that the cocoa producers and processors had no other option than to address production challenges efficiently, adding that one of such ways was to provide the appropriate infrastructure to the rural communities.

He said the government of Ghana was prepared to work in harmony with all genuine organisations to help improve conditions of the people. Mr. Mathew Williams, Marketing Actualizing Director of Kraft Food, UK said the project was in line with the company's commitment to giving 20 per cent of profits from the sale of Cadbury Fairtrade products to fund development in the Ghanaian cocoa farming communities.

He said, the initiative will be supported by an integrated marketing campaign from Cadbury designed to drive awareness of Fairtrade for the fortnight (28 February to 13 March) and beyond.

According to Mr. Williams, the marketing activity will include digital and PR activity and in-store point of sale material. “Our target is to exhibit our commitment to the communities by ensuring that cocoa farming communities who produce our cocoa are empowered to meet their long-term goals.” The cost of funding the project was not disclosed, but investigation revealed that the two-week campaign would yield a six-figure amount and the world's second largest chocolate producers plan to sustain the project for the farmers with more of such interventions.

Mrs. Yaa Peprah Amekudzi, the Cadbury Country Manager for Ghana, said the panels would provide more affordable electricity, which could help run health clinics. "It is set to deliver great results for retailers too," she said.

Mrs. Amekudzi observed that the plan is part of a holistic intervention strategy to whip up the income levels of the Ghanaian cocoa farmer. Other aspect of the strategy she said was the supply of good quality cocoa seedlings and added that over 500 thousand cocoa seedlings have already been distributed to the farmers in 93 cocoa production areas.

"By creating an affordable supply of electricity, solar panels can do everything from powering a health clinic to giving kids extra time to study at night", she added.

The Executive Director of the Fairtrade Foundation Ms Harriet Lamb, said partnership between cocoa growers and buyers was not only vital for business but also highly important for facing new challenges such as rising food prices and climate change which affect the growth of the cocoa industry.