The President of the World Cocoa Farmers Organization (WCFO), Mr. Abraham K. Adusei has called on all cocoa farmers to amplify their voices on issues affecting the agricultural sector especially concerns on cocoa prices to be able to sustain their lives in the trade they have chosen.

He revealed that the WCFO are battling with challenges yet it will protect the interest of its members globally and support them to become independent cocoa entrepreneurs. Advocate against the use of all forms of unacceptable practices in cocoa farming and promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals was also made known as an agenda of the organization.

“A lot has been achieved but we are still battling with some teething challenges which has slowed our contributions and impact at the International Arena. I must acknowledge that we have had our fair share of challenges over these years.

“With this background, the theme for the conference “Consolidating the cocoa farmers’ voice, a key to sustainable cocoa production and improved livelihoods” couldn’t have come at a better time. There’s the need to consolidate our voice as cocoa farmers to make our voice heard. Indeed, we must strive for a strong and a unified voice, a voice that must be heard in determining the price of cocoa and giving the cocoa farmer his first share,” he added.

Speaking at the World Cocoa Farmers Organization Summit held in Kumasi on Tuesday, December 11, 2019 at the Opoku Ware Senior High School Park on the theme “consolidating the cocoa farmers’ voice, a key to sustainable cocoa production and improved livelihoods”, Mr. Abraham spoke that the achievement of Cocoa farmers across the globe is not just about their outstanding contribution to the economy in their various countries but the courage put together under one umbrella with one common purpose.

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He addressed that the ability for the WCFO to highlight issues affecting sustainable cocoa production and to improve the livelihood of cocoa farmers is one significant influence of its member towards a better national development. He commended cocoa agriculturalists for their untiring effort and urged them to keep on with the hard work.

Mr. Adusei further revealed that outstanding work of the newly elected executives of the WCFO has led to the registration of members in 10 cocoa producing countries, which include La Cote D’lvoire, Ghana, Cameroon, Liberia, Jamaica, Dominican Republic etc.

“I am happy to report that for the first time the WCFO was invited as a member of the planning committee and participant at the ICCO (International Communications Consultancy Organization) conference held in Berlin in 2018,” he said.

The Chief of Bantama, Nana Baffour Owusu Amankwatia VI on behalf of the Asantehene acknowledged the hard work of the World Cocoa Farmers Organization to secure a platform through which their petitions could be addressed and considered.

The Global president was congratulated for bracing the sunny stages to bring the organizations into its current state.

“I consider this historic gathering very significant as cocoa farmers in the world over meet as a further step in consolidating the decision made in 2014 during the second International cocoa organization conference in Amsterdam for a united cocoa farmers front for a common voice. It is well informing to note that this is a maiden general assembly meeting OF the WCFO after working hard to work together all splinter groups to secure a common platform and a voice for cocoa farmers in the cocoa value chain,” he said.

Nana Baffour on behalf of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II emphasized that the involvement and participation of empowered farmers is required to be able to achieve the ultimate goal of increased production under sustainable condition that would at the end, result in improved lives of farmers.

He called on the ICCO, WCF and governments of both the producing and consuming countries to give real meaning to cocoa famers representation at all national levels and at the consultation assembly of the ICCO to further deepen the democratic processes of representation and drive the urgent needs in tackling the issues of poverty associated with cocoa farmers.