West Africa Day One: Bipoa, Ghana

Comments 9 by Rebecca Bollwitt

I am currently in Ghana to experience Cadbury’s Bicycle Factory delivery. This is their second delivery in two years thanks to the help of Canadians who participated in the online project.

Yesterday I flew to Kumasi City, just North and West of Ghana’s capital of Accra. It was the last leg of my 24-hour journey but I will be based in Kumasi for the rest of the week. The city itself is bustling. Petrol stations, women carrying everything from baked goods and plastic bottles of water on their heads, men selling bandanas and chocolate bars in the streets, and entire buildings painted red for either Vodafone or Coca-Cola advertisements. Cars drive on whichever side of the road will get them to their destination the quickest as burnt orange sand kicks up dust clouds in their wake.


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Upon my arrival we traveled to Bipoa, about 90-minutes outside of Kumasi City. Cadbury’s Bicycle Factory was delivering 100 bikes (although they have 600 more for this community). We enjoyed a ceremony with local elders, the (acting) Chief of the tribal community, and very proud members of the Kuapa Kokoo fairtrade cocoa union.

Day One in Ghana

Day One in Ghana

You say “Kuapa!”, they say “Papa Paa!” a slogan which the women to shout with hands raised.

I will share the full details of the bike ceremony in a few weeks, but I can’t help but post a few photos right away.

Day One in Ghana

Day One in Ghana

Day One in Ghana

After a speech during the ceremony there would be a musical interlude where the women would get up and dance to worship songs.

Day One in Ghana

Day One in Ghana

We also presented the Chief with school supplies for the children who are too young to receive bicycles.

Day One in Ghana

After the bicycle presentation we then met with school children, had snacks in a local church, walked out to a cocoa farm, learned how the cocoa is processed, and talked to the Chief’s adviser privately.

Day One in Ghana

Day One in Ghana

There were some children at the bike ceremony, in their maroon and gold or blue and white uniforms, however most appeared around the community after school hours. They played soccer among the dried leaves of the cocoa farm or on a grassy patch near the road in front of the church.

Day One in Ghana

It was clearly stated by the President of the Kuapa Kokoo union (who is voted in by the cocoa farmers) that every woman sitting there today was to make sure their child received an education. Even so, there are reminders everywhere about the evils of child labour.

From the Kuapa Kukoo Kuapa Kokoo website:

Kuapa Kokoo as a Fairtrade certified organisation takes this issue of child development and protection from exploitation by adults seriously and as such has invested heavily in programs that promote the wellbeing of children.

For example the cooperative has used a substantial part of its Fairtrade premiums to build schools in some communities it operates in to promote the development of children. Also the cooperative has together with other like-minded organisations sought funding to organize kids camps, webcasts, video conferences etc. to ensure that children in rural Ghana are abreast with the happenings in the world.

The Cadbury Cocoa Partnership, Kuapa Kokoo, and other organizations ensure that the children of these Ghanaian communities will be doing nothing more than playing among the cocoa leaves.

Day One in Ghana

Day One in Ghana

Day One in Ghana

Day One in Ghana

Warming up to our presence, their inquisitive faces turned to big bright smiles as soon as you waved your hand or offered them a high-five. Darius and his iPhone 4 were an instant hit.

Day One in Ghana

Day One in Ghana

It’s funny to think that someone in Vancouver who bought a fairtrade Cadbury Dairy Milk bar at 7-Eleven and went home and typed in the UPC code online could actually influence one of these children’s lives – but they most certainly did.

We’re heading to a community today that received bikes in 2009 so we’ll get to follow up on their cycling lives. They are in a more rural location so it will interesting to see the different impact.

Please note: Photos were taken with the permission of the community.

Disclosure: I have not been paid by Cadbury to participate in this trip. However, they have covered my accommodation and airfare to come along and document what I experience.

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9 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

  1. joannbcWednesday, February 16th, 2011 — 9:09am PST

    Great photos! I am looking forward to reading about your trip and seeing your photos. Thanks for sharing.

  2. Henry LeeWednesday, February 16th, 2011 — 10:16am PST

    Fantastic first-day, Rebecca!

  3. Mom-in-lawWednesday, February 16th, 2011 — 11:34am PST

    What beautiful children! Half way around the world and so many similarities to the curiosities of a young mind. The pictures are so good I fell like I could almost reach in an give each child a hug. Love all the brilliant colors. Can’t wait to see more!

  4. HettieWednesday, February 16th, 2011 — 1:44pm PST

    Hey Rebecca!
    Great coverage and pics of your amazing trip in Africa.

    I am impressed that you have shared this so fast with us after such a long journey!

  5. MaktaaqWednesday, February 16th, 2011 — 1:52pm PST

    This is so cool, Rebecca! Is this your first time in Africa?

    Looking forward to reading the rest of how your trip goes!

  6. MuckymooWednesday, February 16th, 2011 — 3:08pm PST

    Wonderful photos! Thank you for posting them.

  7. roseThursday, February 17th, 2011 — 1:36am PST

    Looks like a feel-good PR that Cadbury is putting out. Should watch the BBC documenetary (aired on CBC this past Saturday) – “Chocolate: The Bitter Truth”. This film shows that the chocolate industry still supports child labour through its supply chain, that child labour is still rife in the fields and that the industry has made few moves to eradicate it or the child trafficking behind it. Ghana is a serious offender for exploiting child labour….

  8. roseThursday, February 17th, 2011 — 1:49am PST

    Here is the link to “Chocolate: The Bitter Truth” film

    http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/passionateeyeshowcase/video.html?ID=1695580327

  9. Rebecca Bollwitt, Miss604 Rebecca BollwittThursday, February 17th, 2011 — 1:54am PST

    @Rose This documentary was already brought up in one of my other posts as I too had this concern before doing my research and coming here. If you read above you will see that Kuapa Kukoo and the Cadbury Cocoa Partnership does not use child labour.

    I have seen this with my own eyes and have seen mothers cheering with pride when this has been mentioned.

    Please feel free to follow the links for Cadbury Cocoa Partnership, Care Canada who has a presence here, and TransFair (there is a rep on this trip with me).

    Update: Here’s some information from the Kuapa Kokoo website:

    Kuapa Kokoo as a Fairtrade certified organisation takes this issue of child development and protection from exploitation by adults seriously and as such has invested heavily in programs that promote the wellbeing of children.

    For example the cooperative has used a substantial part of its Fairtrade premiums to build schools in some communities it operates in to promote the development of children. Also the cooperative has together with other like-minded organisations sought funding to organize kids camps, webcasts, video conferences etc. to ensure that children in rural Ghana are abreast with the happenings in the world.

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