History
The Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association (GCCFA) is a cocoa farmer-based organization formed to promote effective collective action in the cocoa value chain. GCCFA which eminated from the WCFO is set up to serve as a common advocacy platform that highlights issues affecting sustainable production and improved livelihoods of members.
Formation of WCFO
In 2014, during the second World Cocoa Conference in Amsterdam, a collective of farmers from 11 cocoa-producing countries (Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Venezuela, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Indonesia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Mexico, Cameroon, Togo) resolved to establish an apex body that would serve as the voice of cocoa farmers globally. At the inaugural meeting in Amsterdam, a five-member board of directors was elected, with Mr. Abraham Kwaku Adusei chosen as the President. The decision was made to register the organization in Rome. However, other groups, such as the International Cocoa Farmers Organisation (ICCF) in Amsterdam and the World Cocoa Producers Organization (WCPO) in Cote d'Ivoire, emerged before the completion of the registration process in Rome.
Merger & Demerger of WCFO and ICCFO
The objective of the farmer organization was to establish a unified voice. Therefore, there was a need to bring all factional groups together. In 2016, a merger agreement was reached between the original WCFO and the ICCFO in Cote d'Ivoire. It was agreed that Mr. Abraham Kwaku Adusei would maintain his position as the President of WCFO. In 2018, at the 4th ICCO Berlin conference, efforts were made to bring WCPO into the fold to strengthen the farmers' voice and provide a common platform for advocacy purposes. This led to the ICCO's recognition of the cocoa farmer's collective strength and encouraged self-organization, as stated in the Berlin Declaration of 2018. Farmers from all cocoa-producing countries were expected to mobilize existing farmer groups, cooperatives, associations, as well as smallholder farmers and farm workers under the WCFO umbrella.
Unfortunately, in 2020, ICCFO, led by Mr. Sako Warren, released a communique formally withdrawing from the merger agreement. This action followed Mr. Warren's unilateral resignation from his post as the Secretary-General of WCFO. Consequently, WCFO no longer maintains a formal relationship with Mr. Sako Warren following his resignation, which was accepted by the board.
Currently, active countries where farmer mobilization and grouping are ongoing include Ghana, Cote d'Ivoire, and Jamaica. Other countries with individual membership and farmer engagement efforts include Venezuela, Cameroon, and Nigeria.
Presently, cocoa-producing countries including Ghana are to establish independent umbrella bodies to represent cocoa farmers in their respective countries. In the case of Ghana, the organization has been registered locally and it is working towards establishing a robust platform by bringing cocoa farmer cooperatives together to have a common voice.
Vision
The Cooperative Association advocates the interests and success of cooperative unions, providing a national voice to ensure a sustainable and inclusive cocoa sector.
Mission
The Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association exists to facilitate the smooth operation of regional cocoa farmers’ unions, providing training and education, promoting best agronomic practices, amplifying the voice of cocoa farmers internally and externally.
Our Mandates
1. Lobby and Advocacy
2. Capacity Building
3. Linkage and networking
4. Collaboration
5. Representation of cocoa farmers
6. Member and Resource Mobilization
7. Conflict Resolution