Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have agreed to harmonise their cocoa farm-gate pricing policies in a major effort to improve farmer incomes, strengthen market stability and deepen cooperation between the world’s two largest cocoa-producing nations.
The agreement was announced in a Joint Declaration issued by President John Dramani Mahama and President Alassane Ouattara at the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana High-Level Summit on the Future of the Cocoa Economy in Abidjan on Tuesday, June 16.
The two leaders noted that Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire together account for about 60 per cent of global cocoa production, giving them a unique responsibility to shape the future of the industry and improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.
Under the agreement, both countries will harmonise farm-gate pricing policies to improve farmer remuneration, reduce market distortions and enhance commercial cooperation.
The initiative will also include greater market coordination, alignment of cocoa premiums and harmonisation of crop-season calendars.
Officials believe the move will reduce cross-border competition and strengthen the bargaining power of both countries in the international cocoa market.
The declaration reaffirmed the commitment of both governments to ensuring fair compensation for cocoa farmers.
The two leaders stressed that better remuneration is critical to the long-term sustainability of the cocoa sector and to promoting economic justice and social stability in cocoa-growing communities.
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire also highlighted progress made under the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI).
Achievements cited include the introduction of the Living Income Differential (LID), efforts to harmonise cocoa marketing and price announcements, and cooperation on traceability and sustainability standards.
Despite these gains, the two countries acknowledged that the cocoa sector continues to face major challenges.
These include price volatility on global markets, illegal mining activities affecting cocoa-growing areas, climate change, the increasing use of cocoa substitutes and tougher international sustainability requirements.
The leaders agreed that stronger collaboration is necessary to address these threats and secure the future of the industry.
Beyond farm-gate price harmonisation, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire committed to strengthening scientific collaboration in the fight against cocoa diseases, particularly Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease.
The two countries also pledged to increase cocoa processing and value addition while promoting greater consumption of cocoa products within the region.
In a further step, they announced plans to expand the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative to include other African cocoa-producing countries.
The move is intended to strengthen regional cooperation, harmonise policies across the continent and boost Africa’s collective bargaining power in the global cocoa economy.
