Vice President Kwesi Amissah Arthur has stated that Ghana is currently working to eliminate all forms of child labour on cocoa farms.
He said the government has introduced the Child Education Support Programme to ensure that schools in cocoa growing communities are rehabilitated and new ones built where there are no schools.
The Vice President said this at the 2015 Federation of Cocoa Commerce Dinner, held in Grosvenor House, London.
He was grateful to the Federation for promoting, protecting and regulating the trade of cocoa beans and products as well as safe guarding the interest of its members.
“Ghana is proud to you in helping to develop a sustainable economy that improves the livelihoods of cocoa farmers who are important segments of the population at a time that Ghana continues to provide incentives and infrastructure that promise to create linkages that would benefit all stakeholders in the industry Ghana,” he added.
Mr Amissah-Arthur also told the Federation that the government is distributing about 50 million hybrid cocoa seedlings to farmers in the country.
He said this forms part of measures adopted by the government to improve the cocoa production in the country.
Mr Amissah-Arther further assured that government will continue to roll out measures aimed at enhancing cocoa farming in Ghana adding that government recognizes the role it plays in managing the Cocoa sector to improve and protect farms and livelihoods.
The Vice President said currently the Ghana Cocoa Board in collaboration with certified bodies like the Rain Forest Alliance and Fair Trade has set up certification standards for cocoa production and educate members on good agronomic practices to ensure sustainability of cocoa production whilst at the same time they are addressing environmental and ethical issues.
“Apart from these private organs like Abrabopa association there are other licensing buying agencies that support Cocoa farmers to increase their productivity and income, therefore increasing the number of cocoa farmers who are joining these certification standards which oversee the technical training group formation of farms and the vicious use of agro chemicals approved by accredited bodies.”
“In addition to other cocoa farms that have are been provided with extension services because the incentives would help improve upon their yield and income and the government would also make sure that these young men and women stay in the rural communities.”
Ghana has come very far in the Cocoa sector since the introduction of cocoa into the country in the 19th century.
Cocoa has dominated the country’s economy making up 3% share of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP).
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By: Maxwell Okamafo Addo