Over the years, the CAA has had several, highly diverse community development programmes. We have offered financial assistance towards the renovation of dirt roads, for instance, which were in a horrible state in the western region. We also supplied school supplies to some schools and supported members who had fallen victim to floods.

First aid and posters

Our members are all trained in first aid by means of a specially designed programme. CAA trainers and office staff also receive this training course once every three years. In 2013, we started promoting community first aid, spreading posters and stickers explaining what to do in case of various emergencies and how to prevent them.

In 2015, all groups were supplied with posters on pesticide poisoning. In addition, our members are required to put together first aid kits as a community. During training and monitoring sessions, our field staff is instructed to focus on first aid aspects.

In 2017, we developed a combined poster on agrochemical storage, PPE and first aid, and chemical poisoning. These posters illustrate different steps that can be taken to protect members, their families, and the rest of the community. All CAA members and other community members are trained to understand and take these important measures.

Fresh drinking water

Also in 2017, the CAA Council, which consists of member representatives, decided that 5% of the total certification premium received should be allocated to community development. A needs assessment was carried out among hundreds of members to show us what to focus on first.
The outcome was very clear: drinking water for all members and their community was the most important need. In the time since, over 25 solar-powered boreholes have been completed in some of the most deprived communities of Ghana’s cocoa-growing regions. More will follow in 2020 and 2021. The boreholes are built for easy maintenance, which means they can be used for a very long time.