In a landmark moment for Africa’s cocoa industry, the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI) is taking bold steps toward securing a fairer and more sustainable future for millions of cocoa farmers. Following a high-level meeting between Mr. Alex Arnaud Assanvo,

Executive Secretary of CIGCI, and Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, stakeholders across the continent are rallying behind the initiative’s ambitious vision.

The Cocoa Farmers Association Alliance of Africa (COFAAA) has lauded the meeting as a critical step toward redefining the global cocoa trade. Comrade Adeola Adegoke, COFAAA President and Global Coordinator, stressed that “this collaboration goes beyond policy discussions—it’s about ensuring that cocoa farmers, the backbone of the industry, finally receive fair compensation and improved working conditions.”

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At the heart of the initiative is a drive to counter global price volatility, empower smallholder farmers, and promote sustainability. With support from industry giants such as Conseil Café-Cacao and Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod), the partnership aims to strengthen Africa’s bargaining power in the international market, reducing reliance on middlemen who often profit at the expense of local producers.

He said, “This is not just about Ghana or Côte d’Ivoire—it’s about Africa reclaiming its position in the cocoa economy,” said Nana Yaw Rueben, COFAAA’s Public Relations Officer.

“We are advocating for a future where cocoa farmers no longer struggle to make ends meet despite producing the world’s most sought-after commodity.”

As global demand for ethically sourced cocoa rises, the success of this initiative could set a precedent for other agricultural sectors across Africa. By prioritising farmers’ welfare, enforcing fair trade policies, and enhancing transparency in pricing, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are signalling a shift in how Africa’s resources are managed—one where farmers no longer remain at the bottom of the value chain.

With COFAAA pledging full support, the message is clear: a united Africa can reshape the future of cocoa, ensuring that the industry’s real beneficiaries are the farmers who cultivate the beans that fuel the world’s chocolate cravings.