It is heartbreaking to think that a sweet treat that is often associated with joy is rooted in suffering and a lack of freedom, created from the scarred hands of impoverished children that dream for a bright future, only to serve unaware consumers that ignore the sacrifices made for their pleasures. Witnessing all the new SDG's set to a better world, deems this issue as a work in progress, yet the solutions to this issue go overlooked without the recognition from cocoa companies and organizations that process the cocoa. 

Each year, cocoa producer prices are set, demand and global market prices skyrocket, and farmers morale decreases. Farmers situated in countries such as Ghana and Ivory Coast, constantly tackle with the inequitable wages, forcing them to lay eyes on child and forced labor. Out of the 800,000 smallholder and family owned farms in Ghana as well as the farms in Ivory Coast, it is estimated that around 1.56 million children work on these farms based of family ties, and not counting amounts of forced labor. Out of these children, 1.48 million were exposed to atleast one form of hazardous work (Assesing Progress). The ILO also considers these issues as "the worst forms of child labor" (Child Labor). In order to resolve the issue of poverty in the cocoa industry, it is fundamental to implement a living income model, enabling farmers to afford basic necessities and decent quality living. This can be supported through increasing cocoa prices gradually , reviewing farmgate prices, as well as granting premium payments for balanced incomes.

Farmers across countries such as Ghana constantly combat with the inequitable wages, often laying eyes on child and forced labor. Out of the 800,000 farms in Ghana, it is estimated that 770000 children work on these farms and around 710000 children have been engaged in dangerous or hazardous labor in 2018 - 2019 (Assessing Progress). Children as young as 5, wield machetes and chainsaws to clear forest and open cocoa pods violating UN and ILO policies. Children are trafficked and sold for $34 USD. 40% of the children are girls (Child Labor)

The difference between the producer price of cocoa and the global market, results to the billions of dollars earned in revenue each year and the millions impoverished with no way out, unless all farms implement sustainable standards. Ghana's farmgate prices are worth around 49600 GHC or around 3800 USD today, significantly under the world market price of cocoa, sitting around 9000 USD to 11000 USD per tonne (Pulitzer Center). 

Although COCOBOD has constantly increased prices up to todays price, is it enough to strike change? Is it enough to excite the poor children that deserve to live normal lives as they realize their work was no longer demanded? Shouldn't child labor become a thing of the past or become obsolete with the innovations and standards established today?

With your help and signing towards a better world where everyone of every age is treated fairly, we can collaborate with organizations such as GNACOFA (Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association) towards raising awareness on the eradication of child labor and inequalities in the cocoa sector including raising incomes for farmers and ensuring quality living for farmers that struggle with production.