GAWU to empower cocoa farmers

The General Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU) of Trade Union Congress, has developed strategies to promote and to organise cocoa farmers around farm and non-farm economic activities to eliminate child labour. The strategies are to support national efforts towards the elimination of all forms of child labour. Mr Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe, Head of Programmes, Training and Education at GAWU, said the Union would drive synergy by seeking the prevention and elimination of child labour and a sustainable cocoa industry in target districts. Mr Tagoe was addressing a workshop organised by the Union in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation for cocoa farmers from Suhum and Akim Swedru districts of the Eastern Region in Suhum on Friday. The workshop discussed strategies with the involvement of cocoa farmers in the elimination of the child labour menace. “It will also select communities within the rural informal economy workers into farmer groups and cooperatives and register them as members of GAWU,” he said. It also seeks to develop and strengthen institutional forms, capacity and internal dynamics as well as channels for influencing policies affecting informal economy workers. He said the Union would train groups and families in additional livelihood opportunities to improve their economic situation.

“The farmers will be taught how to use waste products of cocoa to produce economic viable commodities to provide them additional income,” he said. Mr Tagoe, who is also the Regional Coordinator for Global March Against Child Labour, said the strategy is to ensure that cocoa farmers have decent work and other social protection plans introduced by government.

Source: http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2013/06/02/gawu-to-empower-cocoa-farmers/