The Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group has joined forces with the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) to address the pressing issue of child and forced labour within Africa’s cocoa supply chain.

Leading the campaign through its cocoa sourcing company, Fludor Ghana Limited, TGI Group said the significant collaboration underlines its unwavering commitment to ethical and responsible business practices, particularly in the realm of human rights and child protection.

The move by TGI Group, via its subsidiaries Fludor Ghana, WACOT Limited (Nigeria) and Vink Corporation (UAE), aligns with the ICI’s mission to create a better future for children and eradicate child labour from cocoa-growing communities.

Country Head of Fludor Ghana, Dennis Sampong, said embracing membership of ICI is both timely and fitting for the firm.

“Our commitment to tackling human rights and child labor concerns within our supply chain perfectly aligns with ICI’s vision for a cocoa supply chain devoid of child and forced labour.
“Achieving a sustainable cocoa supply chain is impossible if the young minds shaping the future of cocoa production remain uninformed and human rights violations persist,” Sampong said.

He affirmed that the partnership with ICI empowers the firm to remain at the forefront of industry best practices, ensuring the protection and well-being of every stakeholder involved.

ICI Executive Director, Matthias Lange, highlighted the impact of the collaboration, stating: “As a Ghana-based licensed buyer with an extensive farmer network and cocoa operations, this partnership with Fludor brings us one step closer to achieving our target to reach all children at risk of child labour. We look forward to supporting their efforts to tackle child labour and learning from their experiences.”

The company said the collaboration would focus on implementing ICI’s Child Labour Monitoring and Remediation System (CLMRS), a credible mechanism designed to identify, prevent and remediate child labour risks and cases within the cocoa supply chain.

By integrating their efforts, TGI Group and ICI aim to uphold the highest standards of ethical business conduct, ensuring full compliance with the forthcoming European Union’s Mandatory Human Rights Due Diligence (MHRDD) regulations and Forced Labour regulation.

The alliance between TGI Group and ICI emphasises their shared dedication to promoting human rights in Africa’s cocoa supply chain. Through their combined expertise and resources, they endeavour to pave the way for a more ethical, sustainable and child-safe cocoa industry on the continent.