Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union has intensified its commitment to improving the welfare of cocoa-growing communities with a rollout of four major corporate social responsibility projects across the Ashanti Region.

Under its “Way To Go” initiative, funded by Lidl International and Fairtrade Germany, the farmers’ cooperative, which remains one of the few Ghanaian-owned cocoa-buying companies in an industry dominated by foreign firms, says these projects are designed to uplift the very communities that sustain its operations.

The CSR tour began at Bomfa in the Juaben Municipality, where Kuapa Kokoo broke ground for a fully-furnished Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Centre to support maternal and child welfare.

Community leaders described the project as timely, with the Chief of Bomfa encouraging farmers to continue selling their cocoa to Kuapa Kokoo as the company’s sustained investments reflect genuine concern for their well-being.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Juaben, Eunice Ohenewaa Ansu, commended the initiative, saying it significantly eases the development burden on the government.

She highlighted ongoing challenges such as inadequate street lighting and limited educational infrastructure, and called for more investors to support the municipality.

Health officials assured that the RCH Centre will be maintained as a fully functional healthcare unit aimed at improving maternal and child health outcomes.

The community also hopes the expansion will support their long-term vision of turning their existing health centre into a full hospital.

The team was also at Asenkyem in the Asante Akim North Municipality, where they broke ground for a six-unit classroom block with a staff common room, headmaster’s office and a fully furnished ICT/library centre.

The Municipal Chief Executive for Asante Akim North, Sarah Amoakoaah, praised Kuapa Kokoo for investing in education, while the queen mother of Asenkyem welcomed the project with joy, describing it as a major boost to teaching and learning.

The CSR tour of Kuapa Kokoo moved to Ofoase, where the cooperative initiated the construction of a delivery and maternity health unit. Community members and health workers expressed optimism that the facility will reduce maternal health risks and provide safer childbirth services for women in the area, many of whom travel long distances to access proper care.

The final stop was Nyakoma, where the cooperative announced the construction of the same educational infrastructure being built in Asenkyem, a six-unit classroom block with an ICT/library complex and offices, aimed at easing congestion and expanding opportunities for school children in the community.

President of Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union, James Agyekum Kwarteng, reaffirmed the cooperative’s long-standing commitment to improving farmer livelihoods.

He noted that although the cocoa-buying sector is heavily dominated by foreign companies with competitive offers, communities continue to trust Kuapa Kokoo because its leadership and staff are themselves cocoa farmers who understand the realities on the ground.

He said the organisation will not stop its CSR interventions anytime soon.

To ensure efficiency and quality, a project supervision team from Kuapa Kokoo and its partners will regularly visit all four sites to track progress and address challenges promptly.

Community leaders in all the visited areas pledged to take proper care of the facilities once completed. Some also promised to increase their cocoa supplies to Kuapa Kokoo, expressing appreciation for the company’s continuous support.

All four projects thus the Bomfa RCH Centre, the Ofoase maternity and delivery unit, and the classroom blocks in Asenkyem and Nyakoma, are expected to be completed within six months at an estimated cost of 450,000 euros.