At the meeting in Abidjan on June 16, 2026, held during the Côte d’Ivoire–Ghana High‑Level Summit on the Future of the Cocoa Economy, H.E. Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, and H.E. John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, renewed their shared commitment to promoting a sustainable cocoa economy that places the farmer at the center of sector governance and value sharing.
This renewed commitment builds on the Abidjan Declaration of March 26, 2018, which remains the foundation for cooperation between the two States in the cocoa sector.
Following a review of progress made in recent years, the two Heads of State:
Considering that Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana account for about 60% of global cocoa production, giving them shared leadership and a special responsibility for the future of the sector;
Recognizing the notable achievements of their joint efforts, including the creation of the Côte d’Ivoire–Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI), the establishment of the Living Income Differential (LID), the harmonization of marketing and price announcements to producers, the implementation of traceability and the African Regional Standards for Sustainable Cocoa (ARS‑1000), and strengthened cooperation between research institutes to combat Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD);
Aware that the sector remains exposed to major challenges such as price volatility, illegal gold mining, climate change impacts, the rise of cocoa substitutes and equivalents, and increasing demands from international sustainability regulations;
Aware that Africa, despite producing about 80% of global cocoa, still captures only a marginal share of the value in the cocoa‑chocolate supply chain;
Convinced that fair remuneration for farmers is essential to the sector’s sustainability and a requirement for economic justice and social stability.
Consequently, they agree to:
- Harmonize farm‑gate price policies to optimize producer remuneration, stabilize the market, and strengthen commercial cooperation through measures including market synergy, alignment of premiums, and harmonization of crop‑season calendars.
- Guarantee producers fair and decent remuneration and place them at the heart of the cocoa value chain.
- Strengthen scientific cooperation with a focus on integrated management of cocoa diseases, especially Swollen Shoot.
- Create added value by increasing processing capacity, encouraging regional and continental trade, and stimulating national and regional consumption of cocoa‑based products.
- Expand the Côte d’Ivoire–Ghana Cocoa Initiative to other African countries to enhance regional cooperation, harmonize sector policies, strengthen collective bargaining power on global markets, and coordinate responses to emerging challenges in the cocoa economy.
DONE AT ABIDJAN, ON JUNE 16, 2026
H.E. ALASSANE OUATTARA
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CÔTE D’IVOIRE
H.E. JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA
