Certifications
Fairtrade
The Akoma Cooperative Multipurpose Society received Fairtrade
certification in July 2009 for its Shea Butter products,
the first cooperative to receive this recommendation in
Ghana. For Fairtrade sales, Akoma receives at least the
minimum Fairtrade price of €2,640 a tonne for shea
butter, thus ensuring that members receive a good return
for their work. The additional Fairtrade premium of €185
a tonne is used to establish various social programmes and
make sustainable changes in the local community. As a first
priority, Akoma will use this premium to renovate the Pusu-Namogo
primary school, where the buildings are currently dilapidated
and incomplete. Over the next five years, Akoma will use
the premium for education and developing facilities for
children. These plans include a library, information technology
centre, desks and school equipment.
Organic
In addition, the Akoma Cooperative Multipurpose Society's
Shea Nut and Shea Butter products were awarded organic status
by the Soil Association UK in August 2009. This association
has certified over 80% of the organic products in Britain
and has gained the trust, respect and confidence of consumers
and producers across the globe. The standards they enforce
assure consumers that the products they are buying are genuinely
organic products that can be fully traced back to source.
It is believed that the Akoma Cooperative Multipurpose Society's
Raw Shea Butter product is the first product in Ghana to
have received both Fairtrade certification and organic status.
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