The Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Dr Randy Abbey, has called for greater trust, transparency and unity between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire as the two countries work to strengthen their influence in the global cocoa market and improve the livelihoods of farmers.
Speaking at a meeting of the Côte d’Ivoire Ghana Cocoa Initiative in Abidjan, Dr Abbey said closer cooperation between the world’s two largest cocoa producing countries was essential to securing better prices for cocoa and ensuring the long term sustainability of the sector.
He said Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire had made significant progress through the initiative but stressed that future success would depend on maintaining a shared vision and building stronger confidence between both countries, particularly on issues relating to cocoa pricing.
“Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have a unique opportunity to shape the future of the global cocoa industry. However, this can only be achieved if we continue to work together in a spirit of openness, honesty and trust,” he said.
Dr Abbey noted that Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire together produce more than 60% of the world’s cocoa, giving them considerable influence within the global cocoa value chain.
He urged both countries to move beyond discussions and demonstrate a firm commitment to coordinated action that protects the interests of cocoa farmers.
“With one accord, the two countries can achieve a lot in terms of price on the international market,” he said.
According to him, uncoordinated approaches to pricing and market engagement could undermine efforts to secure fair value for producers, while stronger collaboration would increase the bargaining power of both nations and improve returns from cocoa exports.
Dr Abbey also emphasised the importance of transparency in all joint arrangements, describing trust as the foundation of any successful partnership.
“The discussions we hold must be matched by practical actions and mutual confidence. Without trust and transparency, it becomes difficult to achieve the common objectives we seek for our farmers and our economies,” he added.
Beyond pricing, he highlighted the need for continued cooperation on sustainability, traceability, climate resilience and farmer welfare, all of which remain critical challenges facing the cocoa industry.
The Côte d’Ivoire Ghana Cocoa Initiative was established to strengthen strategic collaboration between the two countries and provide a platform for addressing common challenges within the sector.
Industry observers have long argued that closer coordination between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire is vital to increasing their influence in the international cocoa market, retaining more value within producing countries and ensuring farmers receive a fairer share of cocoa revenues.
As demand for sustainably sourced cocoa continues to rise and global regulations become more stringent, analysts believe a stronger partnership between the two West African nations will play an important role in shaping the future of the cocoa trade and improving the lives of millions of farming households across the region.
