Ghana is preparing to take centre stage in global cocoa discussions after securing the rights to host the 2027 Partnership Meeting of the World Cocoa Foundation in Accra.
The three-day event, scheduled for March 16 to 18, 2027, will bring together cocoa traders, chocolate manufacturers, policymakers, development institutions and farmer groups at a time when the global cocoa industry is under growing pressure from climate change, disease outbreaks and concerns over farmer livelihoods.
Held under the theme “From Origin to Global Resilience,” the meeting is expected to focus on the future sustainability of cocoa production and how producing countries can benefit more fairly from the global chocolate industry.
Announcing the event, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem said Ghana’s hosting role is both symbolic and strategic, stressing that cocoa-producing nations must have a stronger voice in decisions shaping the future of the industry.
He described cocoa as a critical national asset that continues to support millions of livelihoods and remains one of Ghana’s key export earners.
Despite the global chocolate industry generating more than $100 billion annually, many cocoa farmers in West Africa still struggle to earn sustainable incomes. Mr Ampem said this imbalance highlights deep structural problems within the cocoa value chain and called for reforms that ensure producing countries and farmers receive a fairer share of the industry’s wealth.
The sector is currently battling multiple challenges, including climate-related disruptions, cocoa swollen shoot disease, ageing farms, environmental degradation and unstable global prices, all of which have created uncertainty around future supply.
In response, Ghana is rolling out a reform programme known as the “Cocoa Reset,” aimed at improving productivity, strengthening support systems for farmers and expanding local cocoa processing capacity.
The initiative also seeks to improve governance and transparency within the sector while helping Ghana retain more value through domestic industrialisation instead of relying heavily on raw cocoa bean exports.
Mr Ampem said Ghana is determined to move beyond being only a producer of raw cocoa and wants producing countries to benefit more from the global cocoa economy.
He also stressed the need for stronger collaboration between governments, international financial institutions, cocoa companies and development partners, arguing that the responsibility for building a sustainable cocoa industry cannot fall solely on farmers and producing countries.
President of the World Cocoa Foundation, Chris Vincent, described Ghana as a natural choice to host the meeting because of its long-standing role in the global cocoa sector and its reputation for producing high-quality cocoa.
The 2027 gathering will also coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Ghana Cocoa Board, highlighting Ghana’s historic contribution to the development of the global cocoa trade.
For Ghana, the Accra meeting represents more than international recognition. It is an opportunity to push for a new global cocoa framework that prioritises fair farmer incomes, climate resilience, local processing and long-term sustainability across the cocoa supply chain.
