Cargill and ICI combine for Ghana apprenticeship venture addressing child labour

A collaborative community engagement initiative linked to work tackling child labour has been delivered between Cargill and the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI), through hosting a graduation ceremony in Ghana for 60 teenage apprentices completing vocational and technical training courses, writes Neill Barston.

As Confectionery Production has previously reported, one of the core areas of focus for companies operating across cocoa supply chains has been in providing funding and resources to ensure a greater number of children gain access to quality educational opportunities, which is connected to wider sustainability operations.

While the challenges persist in terms of the issue of child labour within core supplying regions in Ghana, Ivory Coast, and other regions around the world, supporting communities through such educational provision, as well as helping raising farmer pay for a living income remain at the heart of tests facing the sector.

As for the latest vocational training initiative, its ceremony was held at the forecourt of the Bekwai Chief’s Palace, near the city of Kumasi in Ghana, and aimed to help the group of young people decide on key career paths. Local leaders, including HRH Oyeadieyie Basaoe Kwadwo Armah III,Omanhene of Sefwi Bekwai Traditional Area applauded Cargill’s leadership and called on other private sector actors to follow suit in supporting youth development.

According to Cargill, the apprenticeship specifically supports 15–17-year-olds in cocoa-growing communities who are beyond compulsory school age and often face limited access to further education or skills training. Through practical training in trades such as carpentry, tailoring, and glass fabrication, the initiative equips youth with income-generating skills for self-reliance and community resilience.

It is part of Cargill’s long-term Child Labor Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS) strategy under the Cargill Cocoa Promise, focused on identifying, preventing, and remediating child labor within the cocoa supply chain.

“Human rights are fundamental at Cargill,” said Max Essoh Latte, Managing Director of Cargill Ghana. “We believe that the best way to safeguard the future of cocoa is to improve the livelihoods and wellbeing of farmers and their families. This program empowers young people with real opportunities to succeed.”

Graduates were presented with official TVET certificates from the Ministry of Education and received tools of trade to launch their careers. The ceremony featured remarks from government officials, community leaders, and parents, underscoring the shared responsibility in building thriving communities.

“This initiative is a great example of how we can reduce child labour and poverty in cocoa-growing communities,” noted Mike Arthur, Country Director of ICI. “By investing in adolescents and providing access to vocational training closer to home, we can equip them with skills that help them be economically independent in the future, allowing them to support their families, diversifying income in cocoa-growing communities, and reducing the prevalence of child labour.”

Samuel Apana, Sustainability Operations Manager at Cargill, highlighted the company’s broader approach to child labor remediation: “This is just the beginning. These 60 graduates are the first batch of over 200 apprentices currently enrolled, with more youth to be added in the coming months. Our strategy combines short-term support with long-term investment in education, women’s empowerment, and community infrastructure.”