• Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Cameroon are set to establish a Cocoa Value Addition Alliance through the Abuja Declaration to promote local processing and negotiate with global cocoa buyers as a united bloc.

• The alliance aims to help African producers earn more from cocoa by expanding local processing, manufacturing and branding, instead of relying heavily on raw bean exports.

• Member countries will also coordinate their response to the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and work together to strengthen Africa’s position in the global cocoa value chain while protecting farmers’ interests.

Ghana is set to join Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Cameroon in a landmark agreement aimed at transforming Africa’s cocoa industry by increasing local processing, strengthening the continent’s bargaining power and reducing its dependence on exporting raw cocoa beans, according to news outlet PUNCH.

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The four countries, which collectively produce about two-thirds of the world’s cocoa, are expected to sign the Abuja Declaration during the Cocoa Value Addition Summit 2026 in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, on Tuesday, July 14. 

The declaration will establish a Cocoa Value Addition Alliance, a regional bloc which is designed to coordinate policies, harmonise industry standards and negotiate with international buyers as a united front.

For Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer after Côte d’Ivoire, the initiative represents a significant step towards increasing value addition in one of the country’s most important export sectors. 

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Although Ghana is globally renowned for producing high-quality cocoa, much of its harvest is still exported in raw or semi-processed form, with the bulk of chocolate manufacturing taking place outside Africa.

According to a statement issued by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the summit, themed “From Bean to Brand,” seeks to reverse decades of a trade model in which African producers export raw beans while the highest profits from processing, manufacturing and branding are realised overseas.

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The alliance is expected to enable member countries to adopt common positions on international cocoa trade, negotiate collectively with global buyers and coordinate efforts to increase investment in domestic processing industries.

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is expected to deliver a message during the summit. The initiative also aligns with Ghana’s long-standing calls for greater value addition within Africa.