Across Ghana's cocoa-growing regions, farmers are facing increasing pressure from climate change, declining soil fertility, and unstable incomes. The need for a more sustainable and resilient approach to cocoa farming has never been greater.

The Sankofa Project was created to address these challenges by introducing a practical and scalable model that improves farmer livelihoods while restoring the environment.

A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT FOR SUSTAINABLE COCOA

Sankofa is supported by a strong network of international and local partners, including Coop and HALBA, the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Fairtrade organizations, the International Trade Centre (ITC), the Nature and Development Foundation (NDF), Swisscontact, and COCOBOD.

Implementation is led by Fairtrade Africa (FTA), Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Union (KKFU), the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the Nature and Development Foundation (NDF), with technical support from Ecotop Suisse GmbH and the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG).

DRIVING IMPACT WHERE IT MATTERS MOST

The project focuses on key cocoa-producing areas in the Ahafo and Western North Regions of Ghana:
• Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai
• Asunafo North
• Asunafo South

RETHINKING COCOA FARMING THROUGH DYNAMIC AGROFORESTRY

At the heart of Sankofa is Dynamic Agroforestry (DAF)—a farming system that moves beyond traditional monocropping by integrating cocoa with food crops, timber trees, and fruit trees.
Each 0.25-hectare plot includes:
• 208 cocoa seedlings
• 52 timber trees
• 18 oil palm or coconut trees
• 36 fruit trees

BEYOND COCOA: STRENGTHENING FOOD SECURITY

Sankofa also promotes Food Agroforestry Systems (FAS), where farmers cultivate crops such as maize, yam, plantain, and vegetables alongside trees that enhance soil fertility.

TRANSFORMING EXISTING FARMS THROUGH THE ISLAND APPROACH

For farmers with established cocoa farms, Sankofa introduces the DAF Island Approach, allowing gradual transition to agroforestry while maintaining cocoa production.
TACKLING CLIMATE CHANGE AT THE FARM LEVEL

Benefits for Farmers:
• Diversified income sources
• Increased cocoa yields
• Improved food security

Benefits for the Environment:
• Reduced deforestation
• Enhanced biodiversity
• Improved soil health
• Elimination of chemical inputs

Benefits for the Cocoa Supply Chain:
• Greater resilience among farmers
• More stable cocoa supply

SECURING FARMER RIGHTS THROUGH TREE REGISTRATION

All timber trees planted under the project are registered with the Forestry Commission of Ghana in the farmer's name.

MEASURING IMPACT AND ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY

Sankofa supports verifiable Scope 3 emissions monitoring and reporting (2023–2028).

A LONG-TERM VISION FOR GHANA'S COCOA SECTOR

Phase I: 2018–2022
Phase II: 2022–2025
Phase III: 2026–2029

MORE THAN A PROJECT—A PATHWAY FORWARD

Sankofa is helping shape the future of cocoa farming in Ghana through innovation, collaboration, and sustainable land management.