Co-op highlights Fairtrade effect on Ghana

THE Co-op commitment to Fairtrade has been highlighted in a national television news programme.
Brad Hill, the Co-operative Group&#039s consumer policy development manager, Food Retail, was featured on the Tonight With Trevor McDonald programme, which was transmitted on ITV on 5th May.
Mr Hill and Michelle Vernon, the Group&#039s Public Relations Manager – Food, travelled to Ghana over Easter with Tonight&#039s presenter Linda Duberley.
Mr Hill told the News: "The Co-op was approached because of its pioneering role in the development of Fairtrade and its ongoing commitment to it. The Fairtrade Foundation, The Day Chocolate Company, which supplies Co-op Fairtrade Chocolate, and Christian Aid were also heavily involved in the programme as well as AgroFair UK, which supplies Co-op Fairtrade Bananas."
Ms Duberley and Mr Hill (pictured above) visited one of the projects in Ghana to benefit from sales of Co-op Fairtrade Chocolate – a water well in the village of Owuram, where the growers belong to the Kuapa Kokoo co-operative, which supplies the Fairtrade cocoa for all Co-op brand block chocolate.
As well as interviewing Mr Hill, Tonight interviewed cocoa farmer Comfort Kwaasibea from Nankese village, who was the first elected woman recorder – one of the most trusted roles in Kuapa Kokoo.
The film crew also visited a women&#039s group at Okanta Apos, which is now earning income from the production of palm oil; the banana plantations of the Volta River Estates Limited (VREL), where the Co-op&#039s Fairtrade bananas are produced, and a local school, which has been provided with a computer laboratory to enhance the town&#039s education, paid for by the Fairtrade social premium.
To wrap up the programme, the presenter visited the Co-operative Group&#039s store in Heald Green, Stockport, where she spoke about Fairtrade with shoppers.