All female cocoa cooperative attains Rainforest Alliance certification
The Assinman Women Cooperative and Marketing Union, an all female cocoa farmers group, has become the first in the country to attain the Rainforest Alliance (RA) certification, a global standard for environmentally and socially responsible cocoa production.
The certification recognises the cooperative’s compliance with environmental, social and economic standards and enhances its access to international markets.
As part of the certification process, 1,512 farm polygons covering 1,278.67 hectares were mapped and inspected to ensure full traceability in line with emerging global regulatory requirements.
Members also underwent training in good agricultural practices, environmental sustainability, responsible labour practices and traceability systems to meet certification standards.
Speaking on the achievement, the Managing Director of SafeCorp Ltd, Akua Yeboah Oduro Owusu, described it as a significant milestone for women in cocoa production.
She said the accomplishment reflected the effectiveness of structured support systems that enabled farmers to adopt sustainable practices and improve productivity.
Also speaking, the Cooperative Development Manager of SafeCorp Ltd and SafeBond Credit Union Manager, Victoria Loretta Owusu, said access to finance remained critical to sustaining the gains made by the cooperative.
She explained that SafeCorp, in partnership with SafeBond, was providing credit facilities to support farm inputs, equipment and other livelihood needs of members.
According to her, the intervention complemented the activities of Village Savings and Loans Associations, where members mobilised savings and accessed small loans for their farming and household needs.
She added that the partnership also enabled farmers to access larger credit facilities, while providing financial education and insurance services to support their long term stability.
The Senior Manager for Training Africa at Rainforest Alliance, Leslie Adwoa Agyapong, described the certification as a major achievement and said it demonstrated that women could organise effectively to meet international standards.
She noted that the milestone highlighted the importance of inclusive participation in the cocoa sector and encouraged other women groups to come together, build strong systems and take advantage of opportunities within the industry.
The Secretary of the Assinman Women Cooperative, Grace Ofori, expressed joy over the achievement, describing it as historic for women in the cocoa sector.
She said members had benefited from training and technical support provided by SafeCorp, which had improved their farming practices and productivity.
Ms Ofori appealed to the Ghana Cocoa Board to support the cooperative with fertilisers and other inputs to boost production and improve yields.
She also called for improved road infrastructure, stating that poor roads continued to hinder transportation of cocoa from farms to markets and affect their operations.
The cooperative, established in March 2024 and based in Assin Fosu in the Central Region, comprises 1,118 women farmers across 41 societies, positioning it as a model for inclusive and organised agricultural development.
Within a short period of operation, the group recorded an estimated production volume of 632 metric tonnes of cocoa, contributing to local livelihoods and the national cocoa value chain.
The certification was secured through Control Union as the certification body, with technical support from SafeCorp Ltd and Rainforest Alliance affiliated trainers.
BY STEPHANIE BIRIKORANG
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