Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, has called for stronger collaboration between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to safeguard their economies and secure a better future for cocoa farmers.
Speaking as Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Côte d’Ivoire–Ghana Cocoa Initiative at the ongoing 7th Ordinary Meeting in Abidjan, Ato Forson stressed the importance of sustained dialogue and deeper cooperation between the world’s two largest cocoa-producing countries.
Reflecting on a virtual meeting held on May 4, 2026, he noted that the in-person gathering was an important opportunity to reaffirm and strengthen the partnership between the two nations.
According to him, cooperation should be driven by the shared objective of creating a lasting positive impact on cocoa farmers, national economies, and future generations.
“While we may not be able to resolve all our challenges here today, our collective determination to make a genuine and lasting positive impact on our farmers, our countries, and future generations should remain the driving force that guides our work,” he said.
Ato Forson emphasized that the relevance of the Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire cocoa partnership remains unquestionable and urged stakeholders to ensure its success.
He further reiterated the need for the two countries to engage more consistently and strategically in order to anticipate industry challenges, mitigate external shocks, and shape the future of the global cocoa sector.
“As the world’s two leading cocoa-producing countries, we must engage more consistently and strategically to protect our economies,” he stated.
The finance minister encouraged participants at the meeting to engage in open and constructive discussions aimed at identifying practical solutions and concrete actions that would strengthen the partnership and advance the interests of cocoa farmers.
He expressed optimism that closer collaboration would help transform the cocoa sector into one that is more resilient, prosperous, and profitable for the benefit of both countries and their farmers.
The Côte d’Ivoire–Ghana Cocoa Initiative was established to promote cooperation between the two West African nations, which together account for a significant share of global cocoa production, with the aim of improving farmer welfare and ensuring sustainability across the cocoa value chain.
CREDIT: MAVIS FANTEVI
