Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Randy Abbey, has called for renewed trust, transparency and unity between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire as both countries intensify efforts to consolidate their influence in the global cocoa market.
Speaking at a meeting of the Côte d’Ivoire–Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI) in Abidjan, Dr. Abbey underscored the importance of sustained collaboration between the world’s two largest cocoa producers, noting that their partnership remains central to improving farmer incomes, strengthening market leverage and ensuring long-term sustainability of the sector.
He indicated that while the two countries have made notable progress under the Initiative, future success will depend on deepening mutual confidence and maintaining a shared strategic direction—particularly on 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.
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire jointly account for more than 60 percent of global cocoa output, placing them in a strong position to influence prices and policy direction within the international cocoa value chain. Dr. Abbey stressed that this advantage can only be fully realised through coordinated action.
According to him, fragmented approaches to pricing and market engagement risk undermining efforts to secure fair value for cocoa farmers, while unity would significantly boost bargaining power and improve export earnings.
“With one accord, the two countries can achieve a lot in terms of price on the international market,” he emphasised.
Dr. Abbey further highlighted the critical role of transparency in sustaining the partnership, describing trust as the cornerstone of any successful collaboration.
“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, the COCOBOD CEO also pointed to the need for continued cooperation on key sectoral challenges, including sustainability, traceability, climate resilience and farmer welfare.
The Côte d’Ivoire–Ghana Cocoa Initiative was established to strengthen strategic coordination between the two countries and to provide a platform for addressing common industry challenges.
The Initiative seeks to enhance value retention within producer countries while advancing policies that improve livelihoods for cocoa farmers.
Industry analysts have long maintained that closer cooperation between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire is essential to boosting their influence on the global stage and ensuring that farmers receive a fairer share of cocoa revenues.
As demand for sustainably sourced cocoa continues to rise alongside tighter international regulatory standards, a more cohesive Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire alliance is widely viewed as critical to shaping the future of the cocoa industry and safeguarding the welfare of millions of farmers across West Africa.
Source: businesspostonline
