HLEG Policy Brief

The HLEG Policy Brief assessed the performance of cocoa purchasing companies in Ghana against four key criteria: Human Rights, Living Income, Environmental Diligence, and Gender Rights. Using data from 105 cocoa farmers and interviews with 16 industry stakeholders, the study found that companies generally respected farmers’ rights and that incidents of cheating via weighing scale manipulation had significantly declined. This improvement was attributed to the advocacy efforts that led to the introduction of electronic weighing scales. However, farmers reported minimal access to bonuses and additional payments, calling for the Ghana Cocoa Board to review producer prices.

Environmental diligence and gender responsiveness were found to be weak. Cocoa purchasing companies had limited involvement in reforestation or community-level environmental programs, and their support for women farmers was almost nonexistent. While women were not actively excluded, they struggled with limited credit access and high labor costs, making it difficult to expand or maintain their farms. The brief recommends that cocoa companies enhance community engagement through CSR initiatives, such as supporting local environmental efforts, education, and healthcare, and work more closely with district assemblies to ensure their activities align with local development plans.