GNA
Ghana, Ivory Coast strengthen Cocoa Alliance as Mahama meets Ouattara | President John Dramani Mahama has returned to Accra after a high-level bilateral engagement with his Ivorian counterpart, President Alassane Ouattara, aimed at strengthening the cocoa sector and improving the livelihoods of farmers in both countries.
A statement from the Presidency said the two leaders met on Tuesday for the Ivory Coast-Ghana High-Level Summit on the Future of the Cocoa Economy.
The summit culminated in the signing of a Joint Declaration reaffirming the two countries’ commitment to price stability, environmental protection and industrialisation within the cocoa value chain.
President Mahama and President Ouattara expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Joint Technical Committee and emphasised that the cocoa farmer must remain at the centre of cocoa governance.
With Ghana and Ivory Coast accounting for about 60 per cent of global cocoa production, the leaders stressed their “special responsibility” to drive economic justice in the sector.
A key outcome of the discussions was the reinforcement of the Living Income Differential (LID) and the harmonisation of producer prices. By aligning marketing strategies and price announcements, both countries aim to cushion farmers against global market volatility.
The two Presidents also raised concern over environmental threats, particularly the impact of illegal mining on water bodies. They agreed on a joint strategy to intensify the fight against illegal mining, undertake cleanup of shared water sources and address climate change effects on cocoa production.
They further pledged to deepen scientific research to combat the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) and other pests affecting production.
The leaders also committed to moving beyond raw cocoa exports by expanding local processing capacity and promoting cocoa consumption within Africa.
The Cocoa Alliance is expected to expand to include other African producer countries to strengthen the continent’s bargaining power in the global cocoa market.
A summary of the Joint Declaration issued in Abidjan on June 16, 2026, outlined key agreements including a common framework for determining producer prices and improved market intelligence to ensure fair farmer remuneration.
It also recognised the Ivory Coast-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI) and the African Regional Standards for Sustainable Cocoa (ARS-1000) as key tools for traceability and sustainability.
The declaration further called for stronger collaboration between national research institutions to eliminate Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD), as well as increased local processing of cocoa and promotion of intra-African trade in value-added cocoa products.
It also proposed opening the cocoa alliance to other African producers to enhance Africa’s share of the global cocoa-chocolate value chain, despite the continent producing about 80 per cent of the world’s cocoa beans.
Ghana, Ivory Coast strengthen Cocoa Alliance as Mahama meets Ouattara | AviationGhana
