By Benjamin Abugri
Kampala, Uganda – 11 November 2024: The African Union (AU) has launched the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Common African Agro-Park (CIG CAAP) under its Agenda 2063, in a bold and strategic initiative aimed at transforming Africa’s cocoa industry. Senior representatives from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, the AU, and other key stakeholders convened in Kampala to inaugurate this collaborative milestone, designed to tackle pressing challenges and optimise opportunities in Africa’s cocoa sector through an innovative agro-industrial framework.
Dr. Dejene Tezera of FAO
The CIG CAAP is part of the broader Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs) initiative, a flagship AU program envisioned to reshape Africa’s agricultural landscape by establishing integrated agro-industrial hubs throughout the continent. As two of the world’s top cocoa producers, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana jointly supply nearly 60% of the global cocoa market (World Cocoa Foundation). This partnership aims to strengthen both nations by shifting their focus towards value-added production, enhancing competitive market positioning, and promoting sustainable practices while driving forward the AU’s objectives of regional industrialisation and self-sufficiency.
Dr Janet Edeme, Head of the AU’s Rural Development Division, described the CIG Cocoa CAAP as “a powerful statement of our determination to convert Africa’s natural wealth into value-added products that elevate our economies, empower our youth, and transform our societies.”
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is actively supporting the initiative through a dedicated and specialised research agenda targeting ten specific areas of study. FARA will engage leading academic and cocoa research institutions across Africa to recruit PhD candidates focused on advancing critical studies in cocoa production and processing, thereby fostering the next generation of African scientists. This focus reinforces FARA’s commitment to the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the cocoa sector.
The AU, FARA, Afreximbank, and AfCFTA have united efforts to support the CIG CAAP through substantial investments in research, technical guidance, and innovative financing models. Anselme Vodounhessi, CAAPs Coordinator at FARA, emphasised the project’s commitment to a circular economy by repurposing cocoa byproducts such as husks and shells into environmentally friendly products like fertilisers, animal feed, and biofuels, setting new standards for sustainable industrial practices across Africa.
The meeting included a dedicated session on finalising the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Pre-feasibility Study and Regional Value Chain Study, two pivotal steps in establishing the CIG CAAP. Under the guidance of UNIDO, with technical support from UNECA, IFPRI, and FAO, the ToR will enable detailed project planning, strategic resource mobilisation, and robust stakeholder engagement, paving the way for regional economic growth.
Paul Ntim of the Ghana Cocoa Board
The Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI) and representatives from both countries endorsed the CIG CAAP, recognising it as a transformative strategy to address their shared strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) in the cocoa sector. Despite challenges like price volatility and limited local processing capabilities, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are leveraging this partnership to promote local value addition, enhance sustainability, and build resilience against global market fluctuations.
Leading experts emphasised collaborative efforts towards a sustainable, value-oriented cocoa industry, working in coordination with AU, AUDA-NEPAD, AfCFTA, FARA, FAO, and other significant partners to develop a Common African Agro-Parks Cocoa Industrial Zone. Technical experts, including Paul Ntim from the Ghana Cocoa Board, Whatami Vamoussa Coulibaly from Côte d’Ivoire’s Le Conseil du Café-Cacao, and Tawiah Agyarko-Kwarteng, CIGCI Technical Manager, emphasised the importance of cooperative efforts in achieving a sustainable and value-driven cocoa sector.
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