Our Impact

The Eastern Women Cocoa Farmers Cooperative (EWCOCO) is building a powerful and organised movement of women who are contributing to the growth and sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa industry. By uniting women cocoa farmers under a common platform, EWCOCO is strengthening their collective voice, promoting professional farming and creating opportunities for women to participate more meaningfully in decisions affecting their farms, livelihoods and communities.

Through capacity-building programmes, service-group training, farmer education and stakeholder engagement, EWCOCO supports women to improve their knowledge of sustainable cocoa production and strengthen the management of their farming activities. These interventions encourage members to adopt better cultivation practices, improve productivity and quality, and build farms that are more resilient to climate change and other challenges affecting cocoa production.

EWCOCO’s growing district-level presence is also bringing organisation and institutional recognition closer to women in cocoa-growing communities. A major example is the launch of the Osino District Women Cocoa Farmers Chapter in Akyem Abakoase. The event mobilised more than 600 women farmers from groups including Abakoase Nhyira, Boamah and Nkawkaw. It created a structured platform through which members can collaborate, access support and strengthen their participation in the formal cocoa supply chain. The launch also attracted representatives from COCOBOD, government institutions and traditional leadership, demonstrating growing recognition of women-led cooperatives within the industry.

Beyond the farm, EWCOCO advocates for the economic and social advancement of women cocoa farmers. The cooperative calls for stronger investment, access to resources, strategic partnerships and institutional support that can help women increase their incomes and build more secure livelihoods. By strengthening women economically, EWCOCO’s work creates a wider impact across households and communities—supporting children’s education, improving family welfare and encouraging local development.

EWCOCO is also helping to amplify the voices of women in national cocoa and agribusiness conversations. Through media engagement and partnerships, the cooperative brings greater attention to the achievements, experiences and concerns of women farmers. It ensures that women are not only recognised for their contribution to cocoa production but are also represented in discussions that influence the future of the sector.

The cooperative further advocates for the participation of young people, particularly young women, in cocoa farming. EWCOCO has drawn attention to the declining number of young farmers entering the industry and continues to encourage stakeholders to make cocoa farming more attractive, innovative and economically rewarding for the next generation.

Through initiatives such as the EWCOCO Festival, district cooperative development, training programmes, advocacy and strategic partnerships, EWCOCO is creating a future in which women cocoa farmers are more visible, organised, knowledgeable and economically empowered.

Our impact goes beyond increasing cocoa production. It is about transforming the position of women within the cocoa value chain, strengthening their leadership and ensuring that they have the knowledge, opportunities and support needed to prosper. Every woman EWCOCO empowers contributes to a stronger household, a more resilient community and a sustainable future for Ghana’s cocoa industry.