Presidents John Mahama and Alassane Ouattara
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have agreed to harmonise their cocoa farm-gate pricing in order to improve farmer incomes, strengthen market stability as well as deepen cooperation between the two cocoa-producing nations.
The agreement announced in a Joint communiqué issued by President John Mahama and Ivorian President, Alassane Ouattara, on Tuesday June 16, 2026 at the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana High-Level Summit at Abidjan on the Future of the Cocoa Economy said the commitment is built on the Abidjan Declaration of March 26, 2018, which serves as the foundation for cooperation between the two States in the cocoa sector.
“Convinced that fair remuneration for farmers is a pillar of the sector’s sustainability and a requirement for economic justice and social stability. Consequently, agree to: Harmonize farm-gate price policies to optimise producer remuneration, stabilise the market and strengthen their commercial cooperation through several key measures, including market synergy, the alignment of premiums and the harmonisation of crop-season calendars” it stated .
The two leaders noted that Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire together account for about 60% of global cocoa production, giving them a critical role in shaping the industry’s future and improving the livelihoods of millions of cocoa farmers.
“Guarantee producers fair and decent remuneration and place them at the heart of the cocoa value chain. Strengthen scientific cooperation with a focus to the integrated management of cocoa diseases, especially, Swollen Shoot,” parts of the communiqué stated.
The two leaders also renewed their shared commitment to promoting a sustainable cocoa economy, placing the farmer at the center of priorities for sector governance and value sharing.
Both leaders also highlighted Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI), highlighting achievements such as the implementation of the Living Income Differential (LID), efforts to coordinate price announcements, and collaboration on cocoa traceability and sustainability standards.
The two countries further pledged to expand the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative to other African countries, to enhance regional cooperation, harmonise sector policies, strengthen collective bargaining power on global markets, and coordinate responses to the emerging challenges of the cocoa economy.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah