Kuapa Kokoo was set up to combat the threat to farmers during the liberalisation of the cocoa market in Ghana. In 1997 it joined two other organisations to found Divine which began selling its own chocolate, putting the farmers’ cooperative far higher up the value chain.
Kuapa Kokoo has over 40,000 members in 1300 villages owning 45% of Divine shares and two representatives sit as board Directors. Along with gender equity, producer training and fair wages, this position of influence gives the smallholders a strong voice.