Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have renewed their commitment to building a sustainable cocoa economy, with a strong focus on improving the livelihoods of farmers and strengthening cooperation across the sector.
The commitment was contained in a Joint Declaration issued after the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana High-Level Summit on the Future of the Cocoa Economy, held in Abidjan on June 16, 2026.
The declaration was endorsed by President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana and President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire.
The two leaders reaffirmed their shared determination to place cocoa farmers at the centre of sector governance and value sharing, describing fair remuneration for producers as essential to the long-term sustainability of the industry.
According to the declaration, the renewed commitment is anchored on the Abidjan Declaration of March 26, 2018, which remains the foundation of cooperation between the two countries in the cocoa sector.
The two Heads of State noted that Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire together account for about 60 percent of global cocoa production, a position that places a special responsibility on both countries in shaping the future of the industry.
They highlighted a number of achievements recorded through their collaboration over the years, including the creation of the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI), the establishment of the Living Income Differential (LID), harmonisation of cocoa marketing and producer price announcements, implementation of traceability systems and the African Regional Standards for Sustainable Cocoa (ARS-1000), as well as cooperation between research institutions to combat Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD).
Despite these gains, the two countries acknowledged that the cocoa sector continues to face significant challenges.
Among the concerns identified were price volatility on the international market, illegal gold mining activities, the adverse effects of climate change, growing use of cocoa substitutes and equivalents, and increasingly stringent international sustainability regulations.
The declaration further noted that although Africa produces about 80 percent of the world’s cocoa, the continent continues to capture only a marginal share of the value generated along the global cocoa-chocolate supply chain.
To address these concerns, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire agreed to deepen cooperation in several key areas.
The two countries pledged to harmonise farm-gate price policies to optimise producer remuneration, stabilise the market and strengthen commercial cooperation. This will include measures such as market synergy, alignment of premiums and harmonisation of crop-season calendars.
They also committed themselves to guaranteeing fair and decent remuneration for cocoa producers and ensuring that farmers remain at the heart of the cocoa value chain.
On research and development, the two countries agreed to strengthen scientific cooperation, particularly in the integrated management of cocoa diseases, with special attention to Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease.
The declaration also outlined plans to increase value addition by expanding cocoa processing capacity, promoting regional and continental trade and stimulating the consumption of cocoa-based products within Africa.
In a move aimed at strengthening Africa’s collective influence in the global cocoa market, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire further agreed to expand the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative to other African countries.
The expansion, according to the declaration, is intended to enhance regional cooperation, harmonise sector policies, strengthen collective bargaining power on international markets and coordinate responses to emerging challenges facing the cocoa economy.
The joint declaration was signed in Abidjan on June 16, 2026, by President Alassane Ouattara and President John Dramani Mahama.
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