In a bold move to reshape Africa’s cocoa industry, the Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA) has launched a groundbreaking global initiative to secure economic justice, boost local value addition, and establish Africa as a dominant force in the multi-billion-dollar cocoa economy.

At the inaugural COFAAA Global Webinar, themed “One Voice, One Future – Uniting Cocoa Farmers Through a Thriving Africa,” the association’s President and Global Coordinator, Comrade Adeola Adegoke, delivered a powerful call to action, demanding an end to the exploitation of African cocoa farmers by the global market.

According to him, Africa produces over 70% of the world’s cocoa, yet its farmers remain trapped in poverty, victims of price volatility and unfair trading systems.

Explaining further, he pointed out that the global chocolate industry rakes in over $120 billion annually, profiting off African labour while offering meagre returns to those who sustain it.

In that vein, he said COFAAA is spearheading a revolution to change this grim reality, championing policies that will ensure fair pricing mechanisms to protect farmers from economic instability, expand local processing and consumption to keep more profits within Africa, enforce stronger regulations against exploitative trade practices, and empower the next generation of cocoa farmers through youth engagement and innovation.

Adegoke outlined an ambitious strategy to scale up Africa’s cocoa industry to 4 million metric tonnes, targeting 90% of global production while prioritising value addition.

The transformation, he said, will be powered by boosting farm productivity (800kg–1000kg per hectare) through better farming techniques, advancing climate-smart cocoa agroforestry to ensure long-term sustainability, and implementing traceability systems that enhance quality and command premium pricing.

Another strategy he advanced included building a robust local processing sector to elevate Africa from a raw material supplier to a global powerhouse in chocolate manufacturing.

“We must not just be producers, we must be owners of our cocoa economy,” Adegoke declared.

COFAAA recognises the contributions of global institutions and African governments, including the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), Ghana Cocoa Board, and Cote d’Ivoire’s Conseil du Café-Cacao. However, Adegoke insists that incremental reforms are not enough; Africa must take full control of its cocoa destiny.

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“With one voice, one vision, and unwavering determination, we can reclaim our cocoa sector and make it a global model of prosperity and fairness,” he stated.

Meanwhile, COFAAA has expressed deep appreciation to H.E. Alex Assanvo, Executive Secretary of the Cote d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGHCI), for his keynote address delivered through his representative, Mrs. Tawiah Agyarko-Kwarteg, at COFAAA’s maiden global webinar.

The event, themed “One Voice, One Future – Uniting Cocoa Farmers Through a Thriving Africa,” took place on March 15, 2025, bringing together key industry players to advance economic justice for cocoa farmers.

In her address, Mrs. Agyarko-Kwarteg praised COFAAA’s leadership under President and Global Coordinator Comrade Adeola Adegoke, highlighting the alliance’s crucial role in amplifying the voices of cocoa farmers across Africa.

She emphasized that COFAAA’s vision aligns with CIGHCI’s mission to enhance farmer prosperity through sustainable policies in economic, social, and environmental dimensions.

Mrs. Agyarko-Kwarteg reaffirmed that CIGHCI, established by the presidents of Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, is committed to ensuring better remuneration for farmers in the region, which accounts for 70% of Africa’s cocoa production. She acknowledged the widespread poverty and social inequities among cocoa farmers and stressed that sustainability must translate into improved livelihoods through fair pricing and equitable profit distribution across the cocoa value chain.

The event concluded with COFAAA extending gratitude to all global participants, industry stakeholders, and CIGHCI for their dedication to reshaping Africa’s cocoa sector.

“Cocoa is not just our livelihood; it is the heritage of our ancestors. Together, we must ensure its future benefits to those who cultivate it,” Adegoke declared.