By The Ghana Civil Society Cocoa Platform (GCCP), an independent body established by civil society actors to influence Ghana’s cocoa sector through effective advocacy and partnerships, convened its 2024 Annual General Meeting in Accra.
During the meeting, there was an appeal for financial support from the European Union to foster sustainability within the cocoa sector.
The AGM convened stakeholders including farmers, regulators, and NGOs engaged in Ghana’s cocoa value chain.
Nana Kwasi Barning Ackah, Policy Insights Coordinator of the GCCP, underscored the urgent necessity for the European Union to allocate resources towards implementing the Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) within the cocoa sector.
He stressed the importance of taking tangible action to uphold the commitments outlined 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, emphasized the significance of scrutinizing cocoa pricing mechanisms and their effects on farmers’ livelihoods in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Sierra Leone.
He advocated for an in-depth discussion regarding the participation of farmers and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the cocoa pricing procedures.
“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, disclosed the successful development of the Cocoa Management System (CMS), which has enrolled nearly 800,000 farmers as participants in the Cocoa Traceability Programme.
This system is poised to facilitate the implementation of the EU Regulation on Deforestation-Free Products (EUDR) within the cocoa sector.
He further stated that as part of their Productivity Enhancement Programmes across the seven cocoa regions, over sixty thousand hectares of farms affected by the deadly Swollen Shoot Virus Disease have been successfully rehabilitated.
Moreover, the Board is fully equipped to enforce 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 enthusiasm regarding the revitalized collaboration between COCOBOD and the GCCP. They emphasized how this partnership will facilitate the education of farmers on the innovations and interventions introduced by both COCOBOD and the EU.
Siapha Kamara, Chief Executive Officer of SEND West Africa, extended gratitude to platform members for their invaluable contributions to the two-day event, which significantly contributed to the success of the AGM.
“Special thanks to Oxfam in Ghana, INKOTA-Netzwerk, GIZ Ghana, TrustAfrica Foundation, and COCOBOD for their technical and financial support,” he said.
