Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are leading efforts to unify African cocoa producers under the Cocoa Initiative Group (CIGCI) to enhance bargaining power and secure better prices for farmers.

The initiative, launched in 2018, has seen the two nations coordinate farm-gate prices, implement traceability systems, and combat diseases like the Swollen Shoot virus.Despite market volatility, CIGCI's focus on farmer welfare has proven effective, with cocoa prices reaching over $10,000 per ton.

The 2026 summit between Presidents Alassane Ouattara and John Mahama marked a critical step toward expanding CIGCI to include Nigeria and Cameroon, aiming to represent 75% of global cocoa production.Key priorities include anchoring cocoa prices to production costs, improving disease control, and boosting local processing to capture more value.This collaboration demonstrates Africa's potential to shape its economic destiny and ensure fairer outcomes for cocoa farmers.