The Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has opened the 7th Steering Committee Meeting of the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative in Abidjan, with a call for deeper collaboration between the world’s two largest cocoa-producing countries to transform the sector into one that is more resilient, prosperous and profitable for farmers.
Chairing the meeting, Dr Forson emphasised the importance of sustained dialogue and stronger cooperation between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, noting that the partnership remains critical to safeguarding the cocoa sector’s future.
“While we may not be able to resolve all our challenges here today, our collective determination to make a genuine and lasting positive impact on our farmers, our countries and future generations should remain the driving force that guides our work,” he stated.
“The relevance and necessity of this collaboration are undeniable, and we must ensure that it succeeds.”
Dr Forson stressed that as the two leading cocoa-producing nations globally, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire had a shared responsibility to shape the future of the industry rather than merely react to global market disruptions.
“As the world’s two leading cocoa-producing countries, we must engage more consistently and strategically to protect our economies.
By doing so, we can better anticipate challenges, mitigate shocks and shape the future of the industry rather than merely reacting to its disruptions,” he said.
The Finance Minister called on participants to focus on practical and actionable solutions that would strengthen the partnership and deliver tangible benefits to cocoa farmers.
Resilient cocoa sector
According to the Finance Minister, collaboration between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire was critical to safeguarding the long-term sustainability of the sector and improving the livelihoods of millions of cocoa farmers who depend on it.
He noted that while both countries faced common challenges, including market volatility, climate-related risks and production threats, stronger cooperation could help them anticipate disruptions, protect their economies and shape the future of the global cocoa industry.
The Finance Minister emphasised that sustained dialogue between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire should not be viewed as an end in itself but as a means of delivering tangible benefits to farmers and future generations.
Dr Forson also revealed that the Presidents of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, John Dramani Mahama and Alassane Ouattara, respectively, were expected to hold a high-level meeting to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the two countries and their shared commitment to the cocoa sector.
Collective action
Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Production, Bruno Nabagné Koné, stressed the need to guarantee decent incomes for cocoa farmers through closer coordination and greater harmonisation of cocoa pricing policies between the two countries.
“Ensuring decent income and justice through harmonisation of prices is critical. Cocoa must first of all guarantee a worthy lifestyle for farmers,” he stated.
The Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative was established jointly by the Governments of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to coordinate cocoa policies, strengthen their position in the global cocoa market, and improve the livelihoods of millions of cocoa farmers whose incomes depend on the sector.
The meeting is expected to produce concrete recommendations aimed at deepening cooperation between the two countries and advancing efforts to build a more sustainable, resilient and profitable cocoa industry.