Ghana, Côte d’lvoire to establish unified position to safeguard interest of cocoa farmers amidst EU regulations
Collaborative efforts between Ghana and Côte d’lvoire in light of recent regulations governing cocoa supply, especially to the European Union calls for an established unified position to safeguard the interest of their farmers.
That, the Ghanaian President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo believes there should be an urgent need for this collaboration to address proactively, these challenges, reenforcing the need for a cohesive action.
“We anticipate that, this collective initiative would pioneer the way forward for the cocoa industry,” he emphasised.
President Akufo-Addo gave the hint when he, together with the Prime Minister of Côte d’lvoire, Robert Beugré Mambé commissioned the Permanent Headquarters of the Ghana-Cote d’Ivoire Cocoa Co-operation in Accra, Ghana.
The recent EU Deforestation Regulation demands that the European Union and partner countries develop deforestation-free supply chains for commodities such as cocoa.
To ensure that products they produce on the market do not cause deforestation, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), requires companies to conduct due diligence. That is, companies would need to collect evidence that the product is traceable, deforestation-free and legal.
Ghana and Côte d’lvoire in August 2021, signed the Headquarters Agreement for the establishment of the Cocoa Initiative Secretariat to be situated in Accra, Ghana.
The establishment of the permanent place of office is in line with the fundamental elements of the Charter of the initiative, which among others, specify that, Ghana provides an office for the smooth running of the organisation with an Ivorian national as its Secretary-General.
In 2018, Ghana and Côte d’lvoire formed a cocoa partnership with the purpose of ensuring a sustainable world cocoa economy, that seek to achieve remunerative prices and improve the livelihoods of cocoa farmers; process, promote and enhance consumption of cocoa; promote, foster and defend the common interest of member countries in the international cocoa market and at all relevant international fora.
It was also to enable the two top cocoa producing countries that produces 65% of the world’s cocoa, to learn, innovate and collaborate in tackling challenges facing cocoa production; share scientific, economic and technical information on cocoa for mutual benefit; and harmonise cocoa production and utilisation policies of both countries.
Speaking at the Commissioning ceremony in Accra Thursday, with the Ivorian delegation in attendance, President Akufo-Addo said the establishment of the permanent office is testament of the enduring bond between the two countries and their shared commitment to the cocoa industry.
The established permanent office of the secretariat in Accra, according to the President would provide the coordinated efforts to ensure compliance with the dictates of the Living Income Differential, a monumental achievement of the Initiative, that seeks to improve the earnings of Cocoa formers in both countries.
“Today’s launch is indeed historic, President Akufo-Addo stated, adding: “this beautiful edifice does not only signify what regional unity and cooperation can achieve.”
But also, he stressed, represents the two countries shared aspirations for a prosperous cocoa economy; one that is modernised, industrialised and delivering wealth to the millions of hardworking cocoa farmers and producers in Ghana and Côte d’lvoire.
This cooperation, according to the Ghanaian President, is the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Africa’s cocoa industry.
“We have through this cooperation, creating the opportunity to revolutionise the cocoa supply chain for the delivery of greater value to our economies,” he added.
Pursuant to a strategic partnership established to bind the two countries even closer in 2017, and having regard to the obvious strategic interconnectedness, the two countries in 2018 committed themselves to work together, (known as “Abidjan Declaration”), for the attainment of a sustainable cocoa economy.
The international cocoa market, according to President Akufo-Addo even justifies their course of action and what looked as impossible two years ago, “it is happening now.”
However, with the current producer market price for cocoa, a new set of challenges had emerged, precipitating a revision of the initial approach to sustain and prevent a decline in prices.
That challenge, he said underscores the importance of the organisation and for the two countries to devise new strategies to address this evolving market price dynamics.
The Government of Ghana policy on producer prices of cocoa, President Akufo-Addo reiterated, aims to pay remunerative prices to guarantee income for decent living for the country’s cocoa farmers.
“It is this commitment that has spurred us to pay the highest ever producer price in the history of Ghana,” he stated.
“Even in the middle of this Cocoa year, “where we noticed the positive change in the international market, we did not hesitate to review upwards, the producer prices of cocoa to enable farmers earn higher income and, prepare their farms in readiness to take advantage of the market prices in the coming season.”
President Akufo-Addo emphasised how proud Ghana is to host the headquarters of the initiative, adding: “Our commitment to collective action for the attainment of prosperity for all in Africa remains undiminished.”
