The Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Randy Abbey, has called for deeper trust, transparency, and commitment between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire as the two countries work to strengthen cooperation and secure better value for cocoa on the international market.
Addressing stakeholders at a meeting of the Côte d’Ivoire–Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI) in Abidjan, Dr. Abbey stressed that sustained collaboration between the world’s two largest cocoa-producing countries is critical to improving farmer incomes, enhancing market influence, and promoting the long-term sustainability of the cocoa sector.
He noted that while both countries have made progress through the Initiative, future success depends on stronger mutual confidence and a shared strategic direction on key industry issues, particularly cocoa pricing.
“Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have a unique opportunity to shape the future of the global cocoa industry. However, this can only be achieved if we continue to work together in a spirit of openness, honesty, and trust,” Dr. Abbey stated.
He emphasized that as producers of more than 60% of the world’s cocoa, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have significant leverage within the global cocoa value chain and must move beyond dialogue to coordinated action that protects farmers’ interests.
“With one accord, the two countries can achieve a lot in terms of price on the international market,” he added.
Dr. Abbey cautioned that fragmented pricing and market strategies could weaken efforts to secure fair value for cocoa producers, while stronger cooperation would enhance bargaining power and improve export returns.
He further stressed that transparency remains essential to sustaining the partnership, noting that trust is the foundation of effective collaboration.
“The discussions we hold must be matched by practical actions and mutual confidence. Without trust and transparency, it becomes difficult to achieve the common objectives we seek for our farmers and our economies,” he said.
Dr. Abbey also highlighted the need for continued cooperation on sustainability, traceability, climate resilience, and farmer welfare, as part of broader efforts to strengthen the cocoa sector.
The Côte d’Ivoire–Ghana Cocoa Initiative serves as a platform for both countries to address shared challenges in the cocoa industry and promote policies that improve livelihoods for cocoa farmers.
Industry observers believe stronger collaboration between the two leading cocoa producers will be key to improving global market influence and ensuring fairer returns for farmers across West Africa.
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