It is part of an innovative intervention to solve the age-old problem of insurance and pension for farmers in the cocoa industry and it would cover over 6,000 members of the company’s catchment areas.

Mr Osei Akoto, the Director of Crop Services of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture who launched the programme at Sefwi Wiawso in the Western Region lauded the initiative by the Nyonkopa Cocoa Buying Limited.

He said the programme would go a long way to assist the government to realise its plans for the cocoa industry.Mr Osei Akoto noted that cocoa farmers had encountered many challenges, especially financial support and that such developments had been a major concern for the government and therefore appealed to the private sector to come to their support.

Mr Joshy Varkey the Managing Director of Nyonkopa Cocoa Buying Limited explained that, the programme was part of the company's mission to support farmers sustain cocoa production and build resilient social capital for its members.

"This gesture of Nyonkopa is a seed of lasting gratitude expressed to its farmers for their contributions, commitment and loyalty," he said. Mr Emmanuel Kobby Yawson the Sustainability Analysist of Nyonkopa indicated that, the "Farmer Life Plan" is the brain child of the Managing Director, Mr Varkey and was designed by Nyonkopa Team with support from its partners Takaful Ghana and Vanguard Life.

He said the pension scheme covers farmers who sell their produce to the company consistently for a minimum period of five years and attained the age of 60 and above.Mr Yawson said life insurance cover takes effect immediately the farmer was enrolled on the plan.

“At the beginning of each academic year, the company will make cash donations to deserving farmers to cater for their children's school expenses,” he said. Mr Isaac Damptey, the Managing Director of Vanguard Life said he felt proud to be associated with the programme and that he would ensure that all claims were paid promptly to the farmers as at when required.

Mr Robert Asugre, the Sustainability Manager of Nyonkopa said since the entry of Barry Callebaut through Nyonkopa into the cocoa supply chain in 2015, they had received cutting - edge innovative approaches to promote the wellbeing of farmers. Mr Daniel Awuah-Darko, the Chairman of the Vanguard Group together with Mr Varkey presented the first policy certificate to the Western Regional Chief Cocoa Farmer, Nana Nicholas Cobbina.

Nana Augustine Kwarteng, the Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Chief Cocoa Farmer expressed gratitude to the company and its partners for the initiative and urged farmers to sell their produce to the Nyonkopa Cocoa Buying Limited for good returns.