Ghana and Ivory Coast have signed a joint declaration on cocoa pricing and sustainability. The agreement came during a high-level bilateral summit in Abidjan. Together, the two nations produce about 60 percent of global cocoa supply.
Presidents John Dramani Mahama of Ghana and Alassane Ouattara of Ivory Coast oversaw the signing. The declaration covers pricing, local processing, environmental protection, and scientific research. Both leaders want better incomes for millions of cocoa farmers. They agreed to establish a common framework for determining producer prices. They also pledged stronger market intelligence systems. The partnership aims to transform both nations from raw bean exporters into industrial processing hubs. The Côte d'Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative and African Regional Standards for Sustainable Cocoa will guide traceability efforts.
The two presidents agreed to expand the Cocoa Alliance by inviting other African producers. That expansion would strengthen the continent's collective bargaining power in global markets. Ghana and Ivory Coast have long struggled with price volatility on international exchanges. This declaration marks their most coordinated response yet. Other cocoa-producing nations in West and Central Africa are reviewing the invitation. The global chocolate industry is watching closely.
