The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Randy Abbey, has called for deeper collaboration between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, arguing that a united approach is critical to securing better cocoa prices and improving the welfare of farmers.

Addressing a meeting of the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative in Abidjan, Dr Abbey said the world's two largest cocoa-producing nations must build greater trust, transparency and coordination to strengthen their bargaining power in the international market.

According to him, both countries have made significant progress through their strategic partnership but must intensify efforts to achieve fairer returns for cocoa producers amid changing global market dynamics.

“Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have a unique opportunity to shape the future of the global cocoa industry. However, this can only be achieved if we continue to work together in a spirit of openness, honesty and trust,” Dr Abbey said.

He noted that Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire collectively account for more than 60 per cent of global cocoa production, placing them in a strong position to influence international pricing and industry standards.

Dr Abbey stressed that coordinated action, rather than individual approaches, would better protect the interests of farmers and strengthen the negotiating leverage of both countries.

“With one accord, the two countries can achieve a lot in terms of price on the international market,” he stated.

The COCOBOD chief warned that fragmented pricing strategies and uncoordinated market engagement could weaken efforts to secure fair value for cocoa-producing countries.

He further emphasized that trust and transparency must remain at the heart of the partnership if both countries are to achieve their shared objectives.

“The discussions we hold must be matched by practical actions and mutual confidence. Without trust and transparency, it becomes difficult to achieve the common objectives we seek for our farmers and our economies,” he added.

Beyond cocoa pricing, Dr Abbey called for continued collaboration on sustainability, traceability, climate resilience and farmer welfare, describing them as key issues shaping the future of the cocoa industry.

The Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative was established to deepen cooperation between the two countries and provide a platform for addressing common challenges confronting the cocoa sector.

Industry analysts have long argued that stronger coordination between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire is essential to increasing their influence in the global cocoa trade, retaining greater value within producing countries and ensuring farmers receive a fairer share of industry revenues.

As global demand for sustainably sourced cocoa grows and regulatory requirements become increasingly stringent, observers believe the partnership between the two West African nations will be crucial to the future competitiveness of the cocoa industry and the livelihoods of millions of farming households.