President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned the Permanent Headquarters of the Cote d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI) Secretariat in Accra.

He noted that the establishment of the Secretariat is a major step to greater heights as envisaged by the strategic partnership agreement between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

It is in this direction that the President called for stronger collaboration among African cocoa-producing countries to deal with emerging challenges posed by the recent increase in global cocoa prices.

“In light of recent regulations governing cocoa supply, especially to the European Union, collaborative efforts between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire are essential to establish unified positions and safeguard the interests of our farmers,” he said.

“It is imperative for this collaboration to address proactively these challenges, reinforcing the need for cohesive action. We anticipate that this collective initiative will pioneer the way forward for the cocoa industry,” President Akufo-Addo added.

New dawn

Also, the President reaffirmed the commitment of the two countries to strengthening their cocoa cooperation.

He said the initiative was a testament to the enduring bond between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire and the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the African cocoa industry.

“It is important for me to reiterate that Ghana is proud to host the headquarters of this initiative. Our commitment to collective action for the attainment of prosperity for all in Africa remains undiminished. We believe our development lies in our collective efforts towards industrialization and fair trade within and outside the continent of Africa,” he said.

“Our quest for agro-industrialization is repositioning the dynamics of the agricultural sector. The cocoa sector in Ghana, in particular, is witnessing the impact of these changes. Today’s launch is truly historic. This beautiful edifice does not only signify what regional unity and cooperation can achieve, but it also represents our shared aspiration for a prosperous cocoa economy, one that is modernised and industrialised in delivering wealth to the millions of hardworking cocoa farmers and producers in Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire,” President Akufo-Addo pointed out.

“This cooperation is the beginning of a new chapter in the history of the African cocoa industry. We have, through this cooperation, created the opportunity to revolutionarise the cocoa supply chain for the delivery of greater value to our economies,” he continued.

 

The President said that the need for agro-industrialisation was shifting the dynamics of the agricultural sector, and that “the cocoa sector in Ghana, in particular, was witnessing the impact of these changes.”

He said the volume and value of domestic processing had increased, with the overall installed processing capacity jumping to more than 50 percent of national output, and the total value of exported secondary goods now exceeding $800 million.

“We are on the trajectory of a modern, prosperous, and private sector-driven economy anchored on the vision of a Ghana beyond aid. This vision we hope to achieve through a digitalisation to drive efficiency, improve productivity, accelerate access to government services, and improve the ease of doing business,” he said.

Reaffirming goals

Taking his turn, the Executive Secretary of CIGCI, Alex Assanvo, said the initiative had helped to reaffirm the goal of placing the producer back at the heart of the cocoa value chain.

He said the attainment of the Living income differential had survived attacks and attempts to seek retribution, and the idea had now become an example for the whole world.

For the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, the new office underscored the two countries shared objective of advancing cooperation for mutual benefit.

He said that CIGCI was now a well-recognised visible player in the cocoa sector, adding that “With acknowledged contributions on a range of topics, which include price traceability, regulations, and market outlook.”

Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board, disclosed that the secretariat building was donated by the Ghanaian government as part of its commitment to the initiative’s success.

By Izzy Stephens Asante