WASHINGTON, July 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Kuapa Kokoo, co-owners of Divine Chocolate, the pioneering fair trade chocolate brand, proudly extends an invitation for President Obama to come visit them during his upcoming trip to Ghana. The invitation includes the opportunity to learn not only about cocoa from Ghana, but how this dynamic group of 45,000 cocoa farmers is using democratic cooperation and Fair Trade as a way to improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers and to invest in their future.

"We wish to show Mr. Obama how cocoa farmers have joined together to build our communities, invest in education, clean water and health. We urge him to join our call for fair and dignified trade so that we farmers can be a greater part of the solution to problems facing Ghana and all of Africa," says Mr. Paul CK. Buah, President of Kuapa Kokoo Farmers Cooperative.

Kuapa Kokoo has been internationally recognized for its pioneering efforts in Fair Trade. It is also an example of how African led social enterprises can be leading forces for achieving development goals on the continent.

"The Obama administration has helped Americans see their relationship to the world in a different way. This is a great opportunity to shine a light on ways Americans can partner with Africans in practical solutions to poverty. Kuapa's story, Divine's story, is one delicious place to start." Says Erin Gorman, CEO of Divine Chocolate.

At its core, Divine Chocolate is an amazing story of how cocoa farmers from Ghana came to own their own chocolate company. After 10 short years of existence, Divine now counts several major brands as commercial partners in its mission to improve the livelihoods of West African cocoa farmers through Fair Trade including The Body Shop, Whole Foods, Virgin Atlantic, Wegmans, Landmark Theaters and Borders Bookstores.

Members of the general public can join Kuapa Kokoo's invitation to President Obama to see the impact of social enterprise in Ghana by emailing the White House at www.whitehouse.gov - and encouraging him to accept the invitation of Kuapa Kokoo.

For more information on Divine Chocolate, please visit www.divinechocolateusa.com.

Divine Company Mission

The Divine Chocolate mission is to improve the livelihood of smallholder cocoa producers in West Africa by establishing their own dynamic branded proposition in the UK and US chocolate markets. To achieve this, a range of objectives have been set out:

• To take a quality and affordable range of Fair Trade chocolate bars into the mainstream market.
• To raise awareness of Fair Trade issues among retailers and consumers of all age groups.
• To be highly visible and vocal in the chocolate sector and thereby act as a catalyst for change.

SOURCE Divine Chocolate