Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire Deepen Cocoa Alliance

 President John Dramani Mahama has returned to Accra after a landmark bilateral summit with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, where the two leaders strengthened ties to secure the future of the cocoa industry and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

The Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana High-Level Summit on the Future of the Cocoa Economy culminated in the signing of a Joint Declaration reaffirming both nations’ commitment to price stability, environmental protection, and industrialisation. Together, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire account for about 60% of global cocoa production, giving them what the leaders described as a “special responsibility” to lead the sector toward economic justice.

A key highlight was the reinforcement of the Living Income Differential (LID) and harmonisation of producer prices. By aligning marketing strategies and price announcements, the two countries aim to shield farmers from the volatility of international markets.

The summit also addressed environmental threats, with both leaders expressing grave concern over the impact of illegal mining on water bodies. They agreed to launch joint cleanup operations, reduce mining activities, and mitigate climate change effects on crop yields.

On the scientific front, the leaders pledged deeper cooperation to combat the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) and other pests. They also committed to expanding local processing capacities, shifting from raw bean exports to industrial hubs, and stimulating cocoa consumption within Africa.

The “Cocoa Alliance” is expected to broaden, with Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire inviting other African producer nations to join, thereby enhancing the continent’s bargaining power in the global cocoa-chocolate value chain.

Summary of the Joint Declaration (June 16, 2026)

1. Producer price framework — Establishing a common system to ensure fair farmer remuneration.
2. Traceability tools — Recognition of CIGCI and ARS-1000 standards for sustainable cocoa.
3. Research cooperation — Strengthening national institutes to eliminate CSSVD.
4. Local processing — Commitment to process substantial volumes domestically and promote intra-African trade.
5. Alliance expansion — Opening membership to other African producers to increase Africa’s share of the global cocoa-chocolate value chain.