Ghana’s Eastern Women Cocoa Farmers Cooperative (EWCOCO) has officially inaugurated its Osino District Women Cocoa Farmers Chapter in Akyem Abakoase, as the drive to raise standards in sustainable agriculture continues, reports Sam Poku.

As the organisation noted, the gathering marked a  significant milestone in the effort to advance sustainable cocoa cultivation within Ghana and the World’s Cocoa sector.

The launch event served as a platform to unify regional women farmers and formalise their role in the national supply chain.

Notably, the ceremony attracted a high-profile audience, including representatives from the Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod), government officials, and traditional leaders. Notable attendees included EWCOCO President Madam Ernestina Osei-Tutu and Madam Margaret Frimpong Ayerakwa, Deputy Executive Director of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (Ched). Their participation underscored the strategic importance of integrating grassroots women-led cooperatives into the formal institutional framework of the cocoa industry.

More than 600 women farmers, representing various collectives such as the Abakoase Nhyira, Boamah, and Nkawkaw groups, participated in the event. This mobilisation signifies a shift toward collective, structured agricultural practices designed to increase crop yields and enhance economic resilience for individual households.

During her keynote address, Madam Osei-Tutu emphasised the necessity of professionalism in farming, urging members to adopt systematic cultivation practices that would bolster national production targets. She also appealed to private and public stakeholders for sustained partnerships to ensure the long-term viability of their cooperative model.

Representing the Chief Executive of Cocobod, Madam Ayerakwa reaffirmed the board’s intent to provide comprehensive support for the newly formed chapter. She highlighted the forthcoming Cocobod Bill of 2026, which is engineered to provide targeted interventions aimed at improving the livelihoods of cocoa farmers across the country.

Echoing this commitment, representatives from the Atiwa East Constituency who spoke on behalf of the Member of Parliament, pledged ongoing government support to ensure the cooperative has the necessary resources to thrive.

The establishment of the Osino District chapter signals a broader trend toward the professionalisation of women in agriculture. By formalising these regional groups under the EWCOCO umbrella, the cooperative aims to set a new standard for quality, productivity, and sustainable development within the Ghanaian cocoa sector, ensuring that women farmers remain at the heart of the industry’s future growth.