Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have agreed to harmonize cocoa producer pricing policies as part of efforts to improve farmers’ incomes, stabilize the cocoa market, and strengthen cooperation between the world’s two largest cocoa-producing nations.
The agreement was reached during the 7th Meeting of the Steering Committee of the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI) held in Abidjan ahead of the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana High-Level Summit on the Future of the Cocoa Economy.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Ghana’s Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, announced that both countries had agreed on measures aimed at aligning farm gate cocoa prices and deepening collaboration within the sector.
“The two countries agreed to harmonize farm gate prices through some measures,” Dr. Forson stated.
According to him, the agreement will strengthen market cooperation through enhanced collaboration between cocoa trading rooms, increased data sharing, and the harmonization of crop year calendars.
The two countries also agreed to align the principles used in determining cocoa prices in order to reduce disparities in producer prices and country differentials through a coordinated framework.
To support the implementation of the initiative, a technical task force comprising experts from both countries will be established to develop a price coordination mechanism and conduct periodic reviews of producer prices.
As part of the new arrangement, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire will officially harmonize their cocoa crop calendars, with the cocoa year running from September 1 to August 31, beginning with the 2026/2027 marketing season.
“The Committee thus reaffirms its commitment to the long-term coordination of cocoa price management and marketing,” Dr. Forson said.
The decision comes at a time when both countries are seeking to enhance cooperation in a sector that remains critical to their economies and the livelihoods of millions of cocoa farmers.
Together, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire account for more than half of global cocoa production, giving them significant influence in the international cocoa market.
Differences in producer prices between the two countries have often been blamed for cross-border cocoa smuggling and market distortions. Officials believe the harmonization measures will help address these challenges while ensuring better remuneration for farmers and promoting stability and sustainability across the cocoa value chain.
The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson and Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Agriculture, Bruno Nabagné Koné, as part of ongoing efforts under the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative to coordinate policies and strengthen the competitiveness of the cocoa industry.
Beyond pricing reforms, the committee also explored ways to deepen scientific cooperation, promote sustainable cocoa production, and enhance regional collaboration. However, the harmonization of producer pricing policies emerged as one of the key outcomes of the meeting, highlighting the growing commitment of both nations to a coordinated approach to cocoa market management.
