Elias Mohammed

Elias Mohammed is a 52 year old cocoa farmer, and is a member of the Kuapa Kokoo co-operative living in Bayerebon3. He has two and a half acres of farming land producing about twelve bags of cocoa a year. He has five children and has been able to send them all to the school in the village built with Fairtrade premiums. Two have now gone on to senior secondary school.

Elias explains: “There was one cocoa buying company represented in this village when I came here, but they were cheating us and not paying us on time. Twenty of us decided to join Kuapa Kokoo as we had heard it was a fair and democratic organisation. We found it was true. Kuapa Kokoo is a very good company. Every week farmers contribute their ideas, and every four years important positions are contested and elected.”

Elias has been voted as The Recorder in his village – the person responsible for weighing the cocoa accurately, checking cocoa quality and paying farmers promptly.

“The farmers trust me,” says Elias. And the proof is that he has been a Recorder for 12 years – re-elected twice.