Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have reaffirmed their joint commitment to transforming the cocoa sector with a renewed focus on farmer welfare and long-term sustainability following a high level summit held in Abidjan on June 16, 2026.
The meeting brought together President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana and President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire at the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana High Level Summit on the Future of the Cocoa Economy, where both leaders adopted a joint declaration to strengthen cooperation in the global cocoa industry.
The two Heads of State agreed on a shared vision that places cocoa farmers at the centre of sector governance, pricing systems, and value distribution mechanisms.
“This commitment is built on the Abidjan Declaration of March 26, 2018, which serves as the foundation for cooperation between the two States in the cocoa sector.”
President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana and President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire
Shared Responsibility in Global Cocoa Production
During the summit, the two leaders noted that Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire together account for approximately 60 percent of global cocoa production, giving them a significant role in shaping the future of the international cocoa economy.
They acknowledged that their collaboration has already led to important reforms and initiatives within the sector, including the creation of the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative, the introduction of the Living Income Differential, and coordinated price announcements to support producers.
Other achievements highlighted include progress in cocoa traceability systems, adoption of the African Regional Standards for Sustainable Cocoa known as ARS 1000, and joint research efforts to address Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease affecting production in several farming areas.
Structural Challenges in the Cocoa Industry
Despite these gains, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana and President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire expressed concern about persistent challenges facing the global cocoa industry.
These include price volatility on international markets, illegal mining activities affecting cocoa farmlands, climate change impacts, rising demand for cocoa substitutes, and increasing global sustainability regulations.
The declaration also noted that although Africa accounts for about 80 percent of global cocoa production, the continent continues to receive only a small share of the overall value generated in the cocoa and chocolate supply chain.
The leaders emphasised that this imbalance must be addressed to ensure fairness and long term sustainability for producing countries and farming communities.
New Measures to Improve Farmer Welfare
A central outcome of the summit was a commitment by the two cocoa-producing nations to improve the remuneration of cocoa farmers through coordinated policy measures.
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire agreed to harmonise farm gate pricing policies in order to stabilise markets, improve producer earnings, and strengthen bilateral commercial cooperation.
The measures include aligning premiums, synchronising crop season calendars, and enhancing market coordination between the two countries.
The declaration further reaffirmed the commitment of both governments to ensure fair and decent remuneration for cocoa producers, recognising farmers as the foundation of the cocoa value chain.
Expanding Value Addition and Regional Trade
The two countries also agreed to intensify efforts to increase value addition within the cocoa sector by expanding processing capacity and encouraging regional trade in cocoa based products.
They further pledged to promote domestic and regional consumption of cocoa products as part of broader efforts to retain more value within Africa. According to the declaration, increasing local processing is expected to create jobs, enhance industrial growth, and reduce dependence on raw cocoa exports.
The summit also prioritised scientific cooperation, particularly in addressing cocoa diseases that continue to affect production levels. Both countries committed to strengthening joint research efforts focused on integrated disease management, with particular attention to Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease.
The collaboration between the two world-leading cocoa-producing nations is expected to improve resilience within the sector and support long-term productivity improvements for farmers.
Expanding Regional Cocoa Cooperation
A key development from the summit was the agreement to expand the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative to include other African cocoa-producing countries.
The expansion is intended to strengthen regional cooperation, harmonise sector policies, improve collective bargaining power on global markets, and coordinate responses to emerging challenges affecting the cocoa economy.
This broader framework is expected to enhance Africa’s influence in global cocoa governance and improve coordination among producing countries. The joint declaration signed in Abidjan reflects a renewed determination by Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to reshape the global cocoa industry in favour of producers.
By focusing on fair pricing, value addition, regional cooperation, and farmer welfare, the two countries aim to build a more equitable and sustainable cocoa economy.
As the world’s largest cocoa producers, their coordinated approach is expected to play a key role in shaping future global cocoa policies and improving livelihoods for millions of farmers across West Africa.
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