Fair Trade Ghana Network

A total of seven (7) Producer Organisations including Matamiss Pottery, Ekumfi Akwia Pineapple farmers Association, Asetenapa Cocoa Cooperatives, Kuapa Kokoo Cooperative ltd, Offinso Fine Flavour Cocoa Society , TradeAid Integrated and Akoma Cooperative were visited. This exercise took the executives and Coordinator to Tema Golf city in the Greater Accra Region, Ekumfi Atwia in the Central Region, Suhum in the Eastern Region, Asokwa and Offinso in the Ashanti Region, Bolgatanga and Pusugu Namongo in the Upper East region respectively.
At each of the cooperative visited, the executives made a presentation of the background and works of the Network and of activities that had been executed in the course of the year as a way of accountability. They then listened and also received updates on the operations of the host organisations, their potentials and present challenges. At some organisations, the visiting team was given a tour of their facilities, providing details of their production process.
Majority of the members visited mentioned the lack of markets for their fair trade products, a challenge with labour, theft of their products, the high cost of certification fees among other. The field visit to members was a success and afforded the team the opportunity to get first-hand information of the operations of the members. Members were all excited that for the first time in many years, the leadership had finally moved out to meet and listen to their concerns