Ivory Coast/Ghana: Together for a Sustainable Cocoa Economy

By African Bulletin on September 2, 2010

Coffee and cocoa producers and experts from the Ivory Coast and Ghana met in conference to adopt a common strategy to really review their position in the market with their 60% share in the world production of cocoa. Doctors Franck Amoa (Ghana) and Adiko (Ivory Coast) have emphasised on the importance of cocoa in the economy of their countries. Over one million farmers are growing cocoa, representing 17 to 20% of income for small farmers and 5.5% of the Ghanaian gross domestic product.

Dr. Amoa stated that since 2003, this culture has grown over 30% and represented 37% of foreign currency earnings of the national budget in 2004. In Côte d’Ivoire, 6 million people are living, directly or indirectly, from this activity, with an annual production of 1,200,000 tons, equivalent to 40% revenue and 15% of gross domestic product. But for how long this farming activity will  remain the source of prosperity of the two economies, and maily for the Ivory Coast?
The Two panellists (Doctors Franck Amoa and Adiko) listed the various threats and diseases which cause important production losses ranging from 30 to 40% of the product, and sometimes even the total destruction of the production. They also exposed the different solutions, suggested by the Ivorian researchers to respond the new demands criteria of quality. It is about genetic improvement, selection of hybrids resistant to insects and diseases, and the rehabilitation and creation of new seed fields.
The other threat raised, to meet the challenge of a sustainable cocoa economy is the smuggling. Comparative studies have identified the causes of smuggling, located the areas where it is prevalent and its pathways, before denouncing the political implications with the neighbouring countries like Togo, Burkina Faso, Liberia. Because of the war and the internal conflicts, these countries have become major producers of cocoa. That has affected so seriously the economies of Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Ghana has lost 100.000 tonnes of cocoa in 2009, representing a loss of 300 million CFA francs.
Failing to have a single marketing system and pricing – in Ghana, the prices are stabilised while they are liberalised in Côte d’Ivoire, the producers and the experts, in the coffee-cocoa branch, are calling on both governments to seriously consider this issue and take appropriate measures to harmonise the prices. It was also recommended that safety and control systems to be restructured to better monitor the borders.
However, the stakeholders have recognised the urgency and especially the need for both countries to convene for a summit with the sub-region countries to find a solution to the plundered cocoa economy.