Nestlé commissions school infrastructure in Ghana to support education, combat child labour  | Food Business Middle East & Africa

GHANA – Nestlé, in collaboration with the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) and ETG/Beyond Beans, has commissioned newly constructed school infrastructure in four cocoa-growing communities in Ghana’s Ashanti Region.  

The initiative, part of Nestlé’s Cocoa Plan, aims to promote access to quality education and improve child welfare in underserved areas. 

The facilities, situated in Ntinanko, Pewodie, Agogooso, and Adjeikrom, were selected following a detailed community profiling exercise.  

The initiative was implemented by ICI with financial support from Nestlé and focused on enhancing access to safe learning environments, while also integrating essential water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure. 

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Salome Azevedo, Business Executive Officer for Dairy, Beverages, and Confectionery at Nestlé Central and West Africa, highlighted the company’s commitment to the welfare of cocoa farming communities. 

“We deeply appreciate the efforts of farmers who provide us with premium cocoa. These upgraded school environments and WASH facilities are investments in the children’s future and are meant to help them realise their full potential,” she stated. 

Mike Arthur, ICI’s Country Director in Ghana, stressed the long-term impact of such educational investments. “Research shows that communities with quality education infrastructure tend to have lower incidences of child labour,” he noted.  

“WASH facilities are especially critical in ensuring consistent school attendance, particularly among girls.” 

The initiative underscores the broader goal of reducing child labour and poverty in cocoa-producing areas by investing in educational and social infrastructure.  

Providing children with safe and inclusive learning environments is seen as a key intervention to encourage school attendance and discourage exploitative labour practices. 

Stephen Kofi Akomaning, Headmaster of Ntinanko R/C “A” Basic School, expressed gratitude on behalf of the beneficiary communities and pledged to ensure proper use and maintenance of the new facilities. 

Earlier in April, Nestlé Ghana, through a partnership with ECOM’s Sustainable Management Services (SMS), also commissioned boreholes in 15 cocoa farming communities across the Ashanti, Central, and Eastern regions.  

This effort forms part of ongoing sustainability projects for the 2024–2025 cocoa season under the Nestlé Cocoa Plan, which seeks to improve cocoa quality, raise farmer incomes, and enhance community well-being. 

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