Kuapa Cocoa Kick Against Child Labour

Kuapa cocoa, a leading cocoa buying company has institutes a child labour policy to help curb child labour going on in most cocoa growing areas in the country.

The child labour unit of the company will see to provide financial and educational support to farmers wards, who are less privilege to be in schools.

The unit established years ago, has provided assistance to many children in these cocoa communities in various regions in the country.

Kuapa cocoa, is a cocoa farmers buying company that seeks to provide financial supports to aid farmers welfare and to enhance infrastructural development in cocoa growing communities.

Mr. Francis Kwaakye Frimpong incharge of publicity and promotions of the company disclosed this in an interview with Modern Ghana during world cocoa day held on Thursdays.

Some children in the cocoa growing areas have abandoned school and are engaging in farming activities due to lack of financial support.

Most cocoa farmers who could not afford to pay their wards fees turn engaging them in farm labour.

The situation has affected most children as their dreams and capabilities are buried.

According to Mr. Kwaakye, the policy will help unearth the hidden capabilities within these children. He said, it will also release financial burden on cocoa farmers as their wards enjoy educational incentives from the company.

He said the company has help build seven schools, 380 borehole and clinics across region that are within their area of operation.

He advised farmers to encourage their children to go to school instead of sending them to farms, since, there is where their future expections are found.

He added that, women in these areas are also benefiting from gender program and training which trains them to acquire skill development to support the farming.

However, Mr. Kwaakye noted that climatic changes of late as a challenge has affected farming activities and cocoa produce in the country.

He said, most cocoa roads projects that has been abandoned for years is really affecting the farmers to transport their beans for sale.

He charged government to implement mechanisms to ensure that distribution of fertilizers will be equally shared among farmers without political consideration.

He urged government to implements measures to motivate cocoa companies that provide infrastructural and financial aid to support farmers in diverse ways since government can not do all alone.