Stay in The Co-operative House
Akwaaba - welcome - to this peaceful haven at the heart of the cocoa growing community of New Koforidua, Africa's first Fair Trade Town.
Built in 2011, the house has undergone extensive refurbishments in 2024 and is run as a social enterprise to benefit the community. Comfortable accommodation for up to 6 guests with 2 double bedrooms and one twin.
Set amongst mature trees, and opposite the local junior high school, you will really feel part of this uniquely warm and welcoming community.
The house is ideally situated just two minutes walk from the main Accra to Kumasi road, and we recommend you visit Kumasi during your time with us, as well as the Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary which offers short hiking trails with an expert guide.
The space
As you walk up the steps and cross the verandah, entering the spacious living area you will find tiled floors and two powerful ceiling fans cooling the room. A large comfortable sofa and coffee table dominate the space, your communal area for eating, drinking, relaxing and playing some of the board games provided. The walls feature display boards explaining the history of the place and the Fairtrade movement.
The three bedrooms are off the living room, two double rooms and a twin, which contains two double beds. The accommodation is intended to be simple but welcoming - rugs and basic white furniture give you everything you need. All the bedrooms have adjustable ceiling fans to aid your sleep. The bedding has been made by a local seamstress, and will be laundered by local people after your stay - let us know if you want new clean bedding while you're with us.
The kitchen, toilet and shower are accessed from a corridor which is the fourth door off the living room. The kitchen has plenty of storage space, a kettle, toaster and fridge, and we have provided Fairtrade tea and coffee.
The toilet and shower are tiled, but date from 2011 and have not yet undergone refurbishment. The shower is a traditional bucket and pail shower, to save water - Africa's most precious resource.
The fifth door off the living room leads to the chocolate kitchen. We think this is the only place in West Africa where farmers and their families can bring their own cocoa beans and make chocolate and other products, to increase their incomes. We are using your room rental fees to equip the kitchen for the use of everyone in the community.
Places you can visit in Ghana.
Price and how to book
The Co-operative House is now available to book via the
AirBnB platform.
There are two double bedrooms and one twin
The whole house (sleeps up to 8) can be booked for
around £50 per night
Follow the link to book
We can arrange a hands-on tour of a cocoa farm, and additional meals which will be chargeable separately while you are there
Join us in Ghana for a once in a lifetime opportunity. We'll discover Ghana's special place at the heart of trade justice issues, stay at the Co-operative House - purpose built for fair trade campaigners to immerse yourselves in a Fairtrade cocoa growing community.
You will spend a day with a Fairtrade cocoa farmer and their family, and meet the Chief and elders. We'll eat locally sourced food and stay in the heart of communities. As a social enterprise we are committed to spending your money with small local suppliers and increasing incomes for rural communities.
If your group is travelling to Ghana independently and you want to visit the Co-operative House at New Koforidua we are exclusive agents for booking the house. The house is currently undergoing extensive renovations but will be ready for use from August 2023.
There will be two single sex bunk rooms each sleeping 6 and a family room with two double beds.
As we are a social enterprise with a mission to support income generation in cocoa growing areas we make sure all the money you pay to stay in the house stays in the community at New Koforidua.
We can help you arrange visits to other sites in Ghana including
* FairAfric factory - one of only three in Ghana where locally grown cocoa is made into chocolate
* Wli waterfalls
* Golden Exotics Fairtrade banana farm
* Mole national park
* Bolgatanga and WFTO member Trade Aid
* Nkyinkyim outdoor art gallery featuring sculptures inspired by the Transatlantic Slave Trade
* Global Mamas WFTO member in Cape Coast or Osu, Accra
We can also help you arrange transport around Ghana and expert tour guides at historic sites. Please let us know what you want to do and we'll do our best to make it happen.
Just email Joanna - thefigtreechocolate@gmail.com with your request.