Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire deepen cocoa cooperation at 7th steering committee meeting

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson of Ghana opened the 7th Steering Committee Meeting of the Côte d’Ivoire‑Ghana Cocoa Initiative in Abidjan, bringing together senior officials from both nations, the Ghana Cocoa Board chief Dr. Randy Abbey and Côte d’Ivoire’s Agriculture Minister Bruno Nabagné Koné. The two West African countries, which supply roughly 60 % of global cocoa, used the forum to discuss tighter coordination on pricing, climate risks and production uncertainties, aiming to make the sector more resilient and to improve incomes for millions of small‑holder farmers.

Forson urged participants to move beyond dialogue, stating, “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… should remain the driving force that guides our work.” Koné added that “ensuring decent income and justice through harmonisation of prices is critical.” The meeting is expected to generate policy recommendations ahead of a planned presidential summit between Ghana’s John Dramani Mahama and Côte d’Ivoire’s Alassane Ouattara to further solidify the cocoa pact.