Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have agreed to harmonise cocoa producer pricing policies in a move aimed at improving farmers’ incomes, stabilising the market, and strengthening cooperation between the world’s two largest cocoa-producing countries.

The Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, announced the decision on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, after the 7th Meeting of the Steering Committee of the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI), held in Abidjan ahead of the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana High-Level Summit on the Future of the Cocoa Economy.

“The two countries agreed to harmonise farm gate prices through some measures,” Dr Forson said while presenting the committee’s conclusions.

According to him, the agreement includes stronger market cooperation through enhanced collaboration between trading rooms, increased data sharing, and the harmonisation of crop year calendars.

The two countries also agreed to align the principles used in determining cocoa prices to reduce disparities in producer prices and country differentials through a coordinated approach.

As part of the arrangement, a technical task force made up of experts from both countries will be established to design a price coordination framework and periodically review producer prices.

Dr Forson said Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire had also agreed to officially harmonise their cocoa crop calendars, with the cocoa year set to run from September 1 to August 31, beginning with the 2026/2027 marketing season.

“The Committee thus reaffirms its commitment to the long-term coordination of cocoa price management and marketing,” he said.

The decision comes as both countries seek to strengthen cooperation in a sector that remains critical to their economies and the livelihoods of millions of farmers.

Together, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire account for more than half of global cocoa production and play a dominant role in the international cocoa market.

Differences in producer prices between the two countries have often been cited as a factor influencing cross-border cocoa smuggling and market distortions.

The steering committee said the harmonisation measures are intended to ensure better remuneration for farmers while supporting greater stability and sustainability within the cocoa sector.

The meeting was co-chaired by Dr Forson and Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Agriculture, Bruno Nabagné Koné, and formed part of broader efforts under the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative to coordinate policies and strengthen the competitiveness of the cocoa industry.

The committee also discussed measures to deepen scientific cooperation, promote sustainable cocoa production, and strengthen regional collaboration in the sector.

However, harmonisation of producer pricing policies emerged as one of the key outcomes of the meeting, reflecting growing efforts by the two countries to coordinate their approach to cocoa market management