Accra: Ghana will host the 2027 World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) Partnership Meeting from March 16 to March 18, next year, in Accra. The meeting will bring together leaders from across the global cocoa and chocolate industry at a pivotal moment for the future of the cocoa sector.
According to Ghana News Agency, the 2027 meeting, on the theme: 'From Origin to Global Resilience,' will focus on the critical role of producing countries and farming communities in shaping the resilience of the global cocoa economy and strengthening collaboration across the cocoa value chain. Mr Thomas Nyarko Ampem, the Deputy Minister of Finance, announcing the partnership, emphasized that hosting the 2027 WCF Partnership Meeting symbolized Ghana and Africa's continued leadership within the global cocoa economy.
He highlighted cocoa as a strategic national asset for Ghana, supporting livelihoods, financing national development, and contributing significantly to economic transformation over several decades. Despite the global chocolate industry being valued at over 100 billion dollars annually, many cocoa farmers in producing countries live below acceptable income levels, a contradiction Mr Ampem described as a threat to the long-term future of the cocoa industry. He called for urgent reforms to ensure fairness and sustainability across the value chain.
The Deputy Minister identified challenges such as climate change, cocoa swollen shoot disease, environmental degradation, supply chain complexities, and price volatility as major issues facing the sector. He pointed out that the global cocoa industry had reached a critical turning point where resilience, sustainability, and shared responsibility were essential for the sector's survival.
Ghana has embarked on a transformation agenda known as the 'Cocoa Reset,' aimed at repositioning the country's cocoa sector for long-term growth, resilience, and competitiveness. The reforms focus on improving governance and transparency, strengthening farmer support systems, enhancing productivity, promoting disease control, and expanding local cocoa processing and value addition. Mr Ampem stressed the importance of moving beyond the export of raw cocoa beans to retain greater value within producing countries through industrialization and local processing.
He also noted that sustainability could no longer be treated as a secondary issue, as international market access increasingly depended on compliance with sustainability and traceability standards. Ghana is committed to climate adaptation measures, forest protection, landscape restoration, and climate-smart cocoa production to safeguard the future of the sector. The Deputy Minister emphasized the need for stronger collaboration among governments, industry players, financial institutions, development agencies, and farming communities to secure the future of cocoa. He called for fairer value distribution and long-term investment across the cocoa value chain.
Ghana looks forward to welcoming global leaders, cocoa companies, farmer organizations, civil society groups, and development partners for discussions aimed at building a resilient and prosperous future for the cocoa industry. Mr Chris Vincent, President of the World Cocoa Foundation, described Ghana as the most fitting destination to host the Partnership Meeting. Speaking virtually at the official announcement, he noted Ghana's leading status in cocoa production and its recognition for the quality of cocoa beans and support for cocoa farmers.
Mr Vincent expressed appreciation to the Government and the Ghana Cocoa Board for their partnership and leadership in advancing the cocoa sector. He highlighted that the meeting would provide a platform for global dialogue on the future of cocoa and would coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Ghana Cocoa Board, marking a significant milestone in Ghana's contribution to the global cocoa industry.