Citi Business News has gathered that officials from Ghana and Ivory Coast will meet cocoa processors and Chocolatiers on the international market in September to discuss issues surrounding sustainability in the cocoa value chain.
The meeting which will take place on September 11, 2019, in Abidjan, Ivory Coast is to, among things, look into how the two countries can address pertinent issues such as child labour on cocoa farms, use of sustainable farming practices.
Head of Public Affairs at Cocobod, Fiifi Boafo who disclosed the meeting to Citi Business News said it is to ensure an extensive consultation with all stakeholders.
“The issue has to do with the sustainability of the industry. Ghana and Ivory Coast have agreed to meet all the international partners to have a meeting on the 11th of September to issues surrounding the sustainability of the industry,” he explained.
Meanwhile, media reports suggest Ghana struggled to found buyers for its cocoa last week as a US$400 surcharge it had placed on the commodity became effective.
The surcharge was to provide additional income to cocoa farmers whose livelihood continue to depreciate despite being responsible for the key ingredient in the billion-dollar chocolate industry.