On this recent trip to Ghana I had the pleasure of meeting Opiane Kwaku Bio, one of the founding members of Kuapa Kokoo.  At 71 years old he is one of the oldest suriving Kuapa elders.  He shared his thoughts about Kuapa and what it means for farmers in Ghana.

"My full name is Kwaku Bio. When I was born someone in my village already had the name Kwaku so my name means "Kwaku again".

I am 71 years old. My society is Betenase in the Western region.  In 1993 my brother Nana Frimpong Abrebrese asked could I help start a [cocoa buying] company owned by farmers. And I said yes. 

I was not always a cocoa farmer. In 1970 I was working as an automechanic. I didn’t see I could be an automechanic in my old age. So I got a farm in 1970 and in 1973 I started farming cocoa.  Now I have a palm and citrus farm as well as cooca.

I am elated when I think of Kuapa because I started Kuapa with my brother and I have sacrificed a lot for Kuapa. I will sustain Kuapa until my death.

Every one of my family members with a cocoa farm is a Kuapa member and no one can take their cocoa somewhere else.

Kuapa is different than other [cocoa companies] because of the education farmers receive. We ferment the cocoa well so that you can even see on the drying mat the difference of our cocoa.

Also Kuapa has built schools, wells, corn mills and [provided] regular education and assistance for the establishment of farmers. The education is so important and no other [cocoa company] is doing this. The wells and the education encourages farmers to work harder.

I have even tasted Divine and thought it was very good.  I went to the UK when Divine started. When I returned  I brought back a box of Divine. I invited the original farmers in my society that helped start Kuapa and gave each a bar. I cut up the rest to give to the other famers who came to my meeting. They still ask when I will bring more.

As an old man I travel village to village campaigning for more cocoa from farmers so there can be more chocolate."