The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is urging Nigeria and Cameroon to join the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative, saying a united front among Africa’s leading cocoa-producing countries is essential to securing fairer prices for farmers and strengthening the continent’s influence in the global cocoa market.
If the proposal succeeds, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Cameroon would form a producer alliance responsible for nearly three-quarters of the world’s cocoa bean supply, creating one of the largest commodity blocs on the continent.
Speaking at the Cocoa Value Addition Summit 2026 in Abuja, COCOBOD Chief Executive Officer Dr Ransford Abbey said African cocoa-producing nations must abandon isolated approaches and work together to change the economics of the global cocoa trade.
“We are making the clarion call on the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Cameroon to join the Initiative,” Dr Abbey said, adding that President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana and President Alassane Ouattara of Côte d’Ivoire would engage their counterparts to advance the proposal.
According to Dr Abbey, Africa produces between 75% and 77% of the world’s cocoa beans but earns less than 10% of the value generated by the global chocolate industry. He described the imbalance as unsustainable, stressing that producer countries must work together to improve farmer incomes, expand local processing and increase Africa’s share of the cocoa value chain.
The Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative was established to strengthen cooperation between the world’s two largest cocoa producers. One of its key achievements has been the introduction of the Living Income Differential (LID), which adds a US$400 premium per metric tonne of cocoa sold to help improve farmers’ earnings.
Dr Abbey said the initiative has demonstrated that coordinated action among producer countries can influence market behaviour, improve pricing strategies and place farmers’ welfare at the centre of global cocoa discussions.
He noted that expanding the partnership to include Nigeria and Cameroon would strengthen cooperation on pricing policies, scientific research, disease control and productivity, while reducing opportunities for buyers to exploit price differences across producing countries.
Beyond pricing, the proposed alliance would also support greater investment in local cocoa processing and manufacturing. Rather than exporting mostly raw cocoa beans, the four countries could collaborate to develop regional industries producing cocoa liquor, butter, powder, chocolate, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products.
For Ghana, the proposal aligns with COCOBOD’s broader strategy of increasing local cocoa processing, creating higher-value jobs and retaining more revenue from the country’s cocoa sector.
Dr Abbey also argued that a stronger alliance would give African producers a more influential voice in global discussions on sustainability, traceability, climate change and farmer welfare, issues that increasingly shape international cocoa markets.
However, he acknowledged that building such a coalition would require sustained political commitment. The four countries operate different pricing systems, market structures and regulatory frameworks, making coordination a complex task. Success, he said, would depend on transparency, consistency and a shared commitment to common goals.
Despite these challenges, COCOBOD believes greater cooperation offers the best opportunity for Africa to convert its dominance in cocoa production into stronger pricing power and greater participation in the global chocolate industry.
