A look behind the chocolate screens in Ghana
We would like to introduce Tony's Kennedy Aduko to you!
Before you can read the next blog about the route our cocoa takes, we would like to introduce Tony's Kennedy Aduko to you! If you are reading this, Kennedy, our Ghanaian Amsterdammer (or Amsterdam Ghanaian?) is working at Abocfa in Ghana to help them professionalize. Curious about how that works? And how do they let you know in Ghana that you are welcome? Then read on for this first 'Kennedy update'...
Hello Tony's fans,
I am Kennedy Aduko, a Dutchman with Ghanaian roots. At the end of 2004 I came to the Netherlands to study International Business Management. I live in Amsterdam with my family, but I have now been in Ghana for Tony's for 3 months! It has always been my great passion to be able to do something useful for Ghana. I think it's great to be able to share the knowledge and experience I gained in the Netherlands there. For me this is a dream coming true!!
What exactly am I going to do?
I have the responsibility to support Abocfa, the partner cooperative of Tony's Chocolonely, in drawing up a business plan to increase the production of cocoa to increase. This allows the farmers to receive a better income, and the cooperative can receive enough income to operate professionally.
Welcome to Ghana
On December 16, I left for Ghana and am now living temporarily in Aponoapono, near the town of Suhum ( that can be found on Google maps). With the words “Welcome Home my Brother” I was immediately welcomed by the entire board of the cooperative. And of course Kingsley! The chairman (you know, who is also on the back of our chocolate milk cartons). When everyone shook their heads according to tradition, I knew I was welcome.
Life in Aponoapono
Life in Aponoapono takes some getting used to. The village is divided into 13 communities and everyone here is cocoa farmer. Fortunately, the village has electricity, but often the light goes out (then you hear a loud “oooooooooooooh” through the village. When the power comes back you hear a unanimous “heeeeeeeeeeey!”). There is a café in the center of the village that always plays loud but fun music until late at night, so that the rest of the village can enjoy it right into their bedrooms. Everyone in the community knows each other and I notice how warm and hospitable the people are. When I speak Twi, the local language, to them, everyone says: aaaaah you are really a brother, God bless you!
Meanwhile at Abocfa
I see real cocoa all around me, a great feeling! I assist the board of the cooperative to develop a strategy and conduct research with a number of farmers into what they want and need. I also investigate opportunities for new markets for the cooperative to see where they can sell more beans. Collecting the right data is a major challenge in a country like Ghana; almost no one knows exactly how old he or she is. During an investigation, one of the farmers stated that her age was 35, while a little later it turned out that she was 77 years old! There is also little good data on farmers' production costs or their total harvest. Tony's Chocolonely is partly working with the Progreso foundation to ensure that this can be better mapped out and farmers can produce more professionally.
A few more words of wisdom
'In Africa we don't keep time, but in Europe no-one has time'. Almost all appointments start too late and you sometimes have to wait for hours. Still, my research is going very well, and I will keep you informed of my progress via this blog in the coming months!
Many greetings to all Tony's fans of Abocfa!
Kennedy
