Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire Invite Nigeria, Cameroon to Join Expanded Cocoa Alliance
Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon are moving closer to a landmark partnership aimed at strengthening Africa’s influence in the global cocoa industry and reducing the continent’s dependence on exporting raw cocoa beans.The initiative follows a high-level summit between Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama and Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara in Abidjan, where both leaders agreed to expand their existing cocoa cooperation by inviting Nigeria and Cameroon to participate in a broader regional alliance.Together, the four countries account for nearly two-thirds of the world’s cocoa production, making them some of the most influential players in the global chocolate supply chain. Despite their dominance in cocoa production, African countries earn only a small share of the profits generated by the global chocolate industry because most cocoa beans are exported in raw form for processing abroad.The proposed alliance seeks to change that by encouraging greater local processing of cocoa into products such as cocoa butter, cocoa powder and chocolate before export. Leaders also hope the partnership will improve farmers’ incomes by coordinating producer prices, harmonising harvest calendars and strengthening the region’s bargaining power in international markets.
President Mahama and President Ouattara reaffirmed their commitment to protecting cocoa farmers from market volatility and ensuring they receive fairer returns for their produce. They also agreed to deepen cooperation on research, sustainability and efforts to combat crop diseases affecting cocoa production.
Another key objective of the alliance is to increase intra-African trade in value-added cocoa products instead of relying heavily on exports of unprocessed beans. Industry experts believe this could create more jobs, boost manufacturing and increase foreign exchange earnings across participating countries.
Analysts have compared the proposed arrangement to an “OPEC-style” model for cocoa, where major producing countries work together to strengthen their influence over the global market. However, officials have stressed that the primary focus is improving value addition and ensuring better livelihoods for cocoa farmers rather than controlling global prices.
If Nigeria and Cameroon formally join the initiative, the expanded partnership could become one of Africa’s most significant agricultural collaborations, giving the region greater leverage in negotiations with international buyers and chocolate manufacturers.The move also aligns with broader efforts under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to promote industrialisation, regional trade and value addition across the continent. Stakeholders believe the partnership could help transform Africa from mainly a supplier of raw materials into a major producer of finished cocoa products for global markets.
