Senior Cooperative Officer at the Department of Cooperatives (Accra Metro), Nathaniel Acorlor, has officially presented a Certificate of Registration to the Danpa Adanfo Co-operative Block Producers’ Society Limited. This milestone grants the group full legal recognition following the successful completion of a six-month registration and certification process.
The certificate was presented at the Green Construct ALS (GCALS) office at Achimota Mile 7, Accra.
The registration follows six months of collaborative work under Phase 2 of the SPVO Certification Project. The initiative is implemented by a consortium comprising Green Construct ALS (GCALS), Rocks Group, People’s Dialogue on Human Settlements (PD Ghana), Habitat for Humanity Ghana, and Spaak Circular Solutions (Netherlands), with support from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana.
The initiative seeks to organize informal and small-scale block producers in Greater Accra into a legally recognized cooperative capable of meeting certification standards, reducing compliance costs, and improving access to structured markets. Through collective action, the cooperative enables group certification, shared services, collective procurement, and stronger collaboration with consortium partners.
Core Objectives of the Cooperative:
• Standards Compliance: Supporting members to align with SPVO environmental, social, and occupational standards.
• Cost Reduction: Lowering production and certification costs through shared services and collective procurement.
• Governance & Growth: Strengthening internal governance and building a reliable, skilled workforce.
• Market Access: Improving member livelihoods by securing access to structured, high-value markets and technical support.
Speaking to the media after the presentation, Mr. Acorlor explained that the Department of Cooperatives, under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, is mandated by law to register, supervise, inspect, and audit cooperative societies across the country.
“The authority to supervise all cooperatives in Ghana is granted by the Co-operative Societies Decree, 1968 (N.L.C.D. 252),” he explained.
He described Danpa Adanfo as a unique entity because it combines characteristics of both an industrial and a service-based cooperative.
“We’ve not had a cooperative like this before,” he noted.
According to Mr. Acorlor, the process began six months ago with the sensitization of interested block producers. The Department subsequently guided the group through cooperative principles, governance requirements, by-law preparation, financial reviews, office inspections, and feasibility assessments before recommending the application for final approval.
“With the certificate issued, Danpa Adanfo is now legally recognized by the Government of Ghana,” he stated.
Receiving the certificate on behalf of the cooperative, President Isaac Boateng expressed excitement about the milestone.
“We’ve waited for this moment. Now that we are certified, we are ready to work,” he said. “Our immediate focus is to produce quality blocks that meet Ghana Standards Authority requirements while remaining affordable, positioning us as a preferred supplier within the construction industry.”
Cooperative Treasurer Ewurabena Ansah described the certification as the beginning of their operational journey but noted that challenges remain.
“Funding is one of our major hurdles. We need resources to expand the cooperative, strengthen our operations, and build a reliable workforce to meet growing market demand,” she said.
Member Muhammad Nuruddin also welcomed the certification, describing it as a significant achievement that demonstrates the strength of unity among the cooperative’s members.
Speaking on behalf of the project consortium, Gabriel Opoku Darko, Project Lead at Green Construct ALS (GCALS), emphasized that sustainability will rely on ongoing teamwork.
“The registration of Danpa Adanfo Co-operative Society marks an important milestone, but the real success of the cooperative will be measured by how effectively its members work together to build a sustainable, trusted, and competitive organization,” Darko said. “Strong cooperatives are built on shared ownership, accountability, and collaboration.”
About the SPVO Certification Project
The SPVO Certification Project aims to strengthen Ghana’s block production sector through improved standards, formalization, certification, and sustainable market access. The project is driven by a joint consortium including Green Construct ALS (GCALS), Habitat for Humanity Ghana, Rocks Group, People’s Dialogue on Human Settlements (PD Ghana), and Spaak Circular Solutions (Netherlands), with funding and development support from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ghana
