MASO is a five year programme, focused on creating employment opportunities for the youth (aged 18-25) in Ghana’s cocoa communities.
I joined MASO as a facilitator in 2016 following the awareness creation in my community on the opportunities in the cocoa sector for the youth. Although it was new and we didn’t quite understand what it was all about, I joined anyway.
I saw a potential to grow a business in the cocoa sector. Although I was already a cocoa farmer, my motivation was two-fold. I wanted to sharpen my cocoa production skills as well support the young men and women in my community also venture into cocoa sector.
Paa Kwao training some MASO Youth in Assonkrom
Three years down the line, I am proud to say, I have trained 64 young men and woman in my locality on cocoa farming. In year one i trained 23 people, in year two ,22 and 19 persons in year three.
Paa talking about his achievements
Through the training received from the MASO Programme, I have cultivated a new three-acre farm in addition to applying my new found skills to a five acres’ farm inherited from my father.The youth have also starting cultivating their own cocoa farms. Together, we are planting new cocoa trees for the future.
Paa Kwao drying cocoa
The youth are quite committed to the programme and are applying their new skills to their farms. I am expectant their yields will increase and provide them better incomes for them.
MASO has the potential to help the youth who are participating develop careers in the cocoa sector. They are planting their future and the future of Ghana.
About the story
Assonkrom, is a farming community in Adansi South district in the Ashanti Region. to date, 64 young men and women have enrolled in the third cohort of the MASO Programme. The youth have each been trained in cocoa agronomy, financial inclusion, reproductive health and entrepreneurship.
In 2016, the MASO Programme was launched to provide employment opportunities for young men and women in cocoa growing communities.
Paa Kwao became a MASO facilitator in 2016. He has so far worked in three separate communities over the last three years. He is well known in each of the communities he has works in. He engages traditional leaders to win their support for the Programme as well mobilize young men and women in communities selected for the programme.
He is 39 years old and married with three children. He is confident the training received from MASO will help improve the yield on his own cocoa farm.
Paa Kwao at a community meeting in Assonkrom
