For farmers across several cocoa-growing
districts, Winnifred Akua Armah, Principal Technical Officer at the Ghana Cocoa
Board’s Western South Regional Office, has become synonymous with discipline in
farm management, practical training and unwavering support.
When Winifred steps into cocoa
farms across the Western South Region, she carries more than extension manuals
and training guides. She carries hope, knowledge, and determination. As the
Regional Extension Officer, she works closely with farmers to improve
productivity, promote good agricultural practices, and strengthen livelihoods.
What makes Winnifred’s story
especially inspiring is that she is also a new mother. Balancing motherhood
with fieldwork is no easy task, yet she approaches both with the same
dedication and care.
Over her 15 years in the cocoa sector, farmers
who have benefited from her technical supervision say her influence has played
a key role in transforming farms, improving yields and preparing them for
national recognition.
Despite the challenges of travel,
long hours, and family responsibilities, Winnifred remains motivated by the
impact she sees in the lives of farmers every day.
Turning
Training into Results
Farmers often recall that Winnifred’s approach
to extension work focuses on one key principle: knowledge must translate into
action on the farm.
Under her supervision as District Extension
Coordinator at Diaso, extension officers worked closely with farmers to ensure
that recommended agronomic practices such as proper pruning, farm sanitation, pest
control and soil management were not only taught but consistently applied.
The results soon began to show.
In 2020, Peh Raymus emerged as National Most
Promising Young Cocoa Farmer, a recognition many in the district attribute to
the strong extension guidance he received during the formative years of his
farming journey.
That achievement would mark the beginning of a
remarkable streak for farmers within the region.
A
Growing List of National Winners
Over the years, districts under Winnifred’s
supervision have produced a steady stream of national award winners.
In 2021, Nana Kwadwo Amoako from Manso Amenfi
District was named National Best Cocoa Farmer, while Kwame Alex of Huni Valley
District was crowned National Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer.
The following year continued the trend. In
2022, Madam Joyce Dapaah from Aiyinase District won National Most Enterprising
Female Cocoa Farmer, while Peter Painstil from Tarkwa District was named
National Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer.
The region’s reputation for producing
outstanding farmers remained strong in subsequent years.
In 2023, George Opoku Koduah of Prestea
District received the title of National Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer.
In 2024, two farmers from the region once
again took national honours: Madam Yaa Adjeley of Asankragwa District, who won
National Most Enterprising Female Cocoa Farmer, and Kwame Alex, who returned to
the national stage to become National Best Cocoa Farmer.
Most recently, in 2025, Kwasi Sei from Tarkwa
District was named National Most Promising Young Cocoa Farmer.
For many of these farmers, their awards
represent not only personal dedication but also the strength of the extension
system that supported their growth.
Beyond
Awards: Building Stronger Communities
Recognition at the national level has opened
doors for many of these farmers.
Some have travelled to Europe and South
America through programmes supported by the Ghana Cocoa Board, gaining exposure
to international cocoa production systems and sustainability practices.
These experiences have enabled them to bring
new ideas back to their communities. Today, several of them champion
initiatives that go beyond cocoa production, including campaigns promoting
education for the girl child, advocacy against child labour and forced labour,
and efforts to protect cocoa-growing areas from illegal mining.
In many cases, these farmers have become
community leaders, using their influence to encourage responsible farming
practices and social development.
Encouraging
Women in Cocoa
Farmers also say Winnifred has consistently
promoted inclusive participation in cocoa farming.
Through training programmes and farmer
engagements, she has ensured that women farmers are actively encouraged to
participate and receive equal access to technical advice and farm inputs.
Her efforts have helped many women farmers
gain the confidence to apply improved agronomic practices and take leadership
roles within farmer groups.
The national recognition of farmers such as
Madam Joyce Dapaah and Madam Yaa Adjeley reflects the growing visibility of
women in the cocoa sector.
A
Role Model in a Demanding Sector
Working in a sector traditionally dominated by
men, Winnifred has had to navigate challenges ranging from the physical demands
of fieldwork to proving technical competence in environments where women are
sometimes underestimated.
Through consistency, professionalism and
continuous learning, she has earned the respect of farmers and colleagues
alike.
Beyond her work in the field, she continues to
mentor young extension officers, particularly women entering the profession,
helping to build a new generation of agricultural professionals committed to
sustaining Ghana’s cocoa industry.
Strengthening
the Future of Cocoa
As Ghana celebrates International Women’s Day
2026, the achievements of award-winning farmers in the Western South Region
highlight the vital role of extension professionals who work behind the scenes
to support them.
For many farmers who have benefited from her
guidance, Winnifred Akua Armah represents the dedication and leadership needed
to strengthen Ghana’s cocoa sector.
Her
belief remains clear:
“A strong cocoa sector needs women because women
bring dedication, a nurturing spirit and innovation to every stage of the value
chain. When women are empowered, the entire cocoa industry becomes stronger and
more sustainable.”
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