The Ghana Civil Society Cocoa Platform (GCCP), an independent platform established by civil society actors to influence Ghana's cocoa sector through effective advocacy and partnerships, held its 2024 Annual General Meeting in Accra.

The meeting included a call for the European Union to contribute financially to ensure sustainability in the cocoa sector.

The AGM brought together farmers, regulators, and NGOs working within Ghana's cocoa value chain.

Policy Insights

Coordinator of the GCCP, Nana Kwasi Barning Ackah, highlighted the critical need for the European Union to invest in the implementation of the Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) in the cocoa sector.

He emphasised that tangible action is needed to reflect the commitments made in the Brussels Declaration.

“When chocolate companies pay the Living Income Differential (LID), farmers will be better positioned to hire labourers, adhere to sustainability initiatives, and use appropriate technologies,” he stated.

Dr. Albert Arhin, Consultant at the Trust Africa Foundation, noted the importance of examining cocoa pricing mechanisms and their impact on farmers' incomes in Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.

He called for a deeper conversation about the involvement of farmers and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the cocoa pricing processes.

“Our research found that the LID policy implemented by Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana is a step towards addressing the poverty experienced by cocoa farmers.

"However, doubts remain about its effectiveness and sustainability. Governments should ensure transparency in the farmgate price-setting process to build trust among chocolate manufacturers and farmers,” he said.

Regulatory Updates

Fifi Boafo, Head of Public Affairs at Ghana Cocoa Board, announced the completion of the Cocoa Management System (CMS), which has registered almost 800,000 farmers as part of the Cocoa Traceability Programme.

This system is ready to implement the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) in the cocoa sector.

He added that over sixty thousand hectares of farms affected by the deadly Swollen Shoot Virus Disease have been rehabilitated as part of their Productivity Enhancement Programmes across the seven cocoa regions.

Additionally, the Board is prepared to implement the African Regional Standards on sustainable cocoa.

“There are ongoing discussions with farmers on how best to preserve their cocoa farms and prevent them from being repurposed for other uses,” he noted.

Appreciation and Future Outlook

Leaders of the farmer cooperatives expressed their excitement about the renewed relationship between COCOBOD and the GCCP, highlighting how the partnership will educate farmers on innovations and interventions introduced by COCOBOD and the EU.

Siapha Kamara, Chief Executive Officer of SEND West Africa, thanked platform members for their valuable contributions to the two-day event, which made the AGM a success.

“Special thanks to Oxfam in Ghana, INKOTA-Netzwerk, GIZ Ghana, TrustAfrica Foundation, and COCOBOD for their technical and financial support,” he said.