The Global President of the Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA), Comrade Adeola Adegoke, has called for a united African effort to modify the continent’s cocoa industry from dependency to prosperity.
Speaking at the African Cocoa Summit and Awards 2025, held at the University of Ghana, Accra, Adegoke described the event as “a historic convergence of voices, a call for unity, and a solemn moment of truth for Africa’s cocoa sector.”
The two-day summit, organised by COFAAA in partnership with the Cocoa Roundtable Initiative (CORI), gathered government representatives, private sector players, researchers, development partners, and farmers under the theme “Building Sustainable Africa Cocoa Ecosystem: Unlocking Economic Potentials, Driving Inclusive Growth.”
Adegoke urged Africa to move beyond raw bean exports and become a producer of finished cocoa products capable of driving value addition and economic growth.
“Cocoa is not just a commodity; it is a livelihood, a legacy, and a lifeline for millions of African families,” he said.
“If Africa produces 70% of the world’s cocoa, then Africa must claim its rightful share of value, dignity, and prosperity.”
He condemned the imbalance in the global cocoa trade, where African farmers earn less than USD $2 daily, while major multinational chocolate manufacturers capture over 90% of profits.
“This is not just an economic injustice; it is a moral one,” he stressed. “The hands that grow cocoa should not live in poverty.”
Adegoke warned that without bold structural reforms, African producers risk losing their global leadership to countries like Ecuador and Brazil, which are expanding production and investing in value-chain integration.
“The era of exporting 100% raw beans must end. Africa’s cocoa story must be rewritten by Africans, for Africans,” he declared.
Mr Nana Yaw Reuben Jr., Country Director of COFAAA-Ghana, echoed this sentiment, stating that cocoa discussions must be led on African soil.
“You cannot hold cocoa talks in Europe and expect Africa to benefit fully. Cocoa must be known as an African commodity, not a European one.”
Participants agreed that transformation should begin with African-led policies, local processing, and farmer welfare, emphasising climate resilience, fair income, and sustainable practices.
Key Priorities Identified: African-Led Cocoa Policy and Governance – Ensuring global trade standards reflect African realities. Local Processing and Industrialisation: Encouraging domestic investment and tax incentives.
Farmer Welfare and Sustainability: Addressing climate change, deforestation, and low incomes.
Adegoke also tackled child labour, deforestation, and gender inequality, stressing that reforms must be “gender-responsive, youth-driven, and inclusive.”
“Women contribute up to 70% of labour on cocoa farms yet own barely 25% of the land,” he noted. “Empowering women and youth is essential for a sustainable cocoa future.”
The event concluded with the African Cocoa Awards, celebrating institutions and organisations advancing cocoa sustainability. Ghana’s COCOBOD, Nigeria’s National Cocoa Management Committee (NCMC), Cameroon’s ONCC–NCBB, and Côte d’Ivoire’s Conseil du Café-Cacao received the Africa Cocoa Institution Development Champion Award for their innovation and leadership.
In the private sector, Sunbeth Global Concepts Ltd was honoured with the Africa Cocoa Fair Trading and Sustainability Champion Award, recognised for its ethical sourcing and leadership in sustainability.
“These institutions are not just award recipients,” Adegoke remarked. “They are symbols of Africa’s determination to lead its transformation.”
In his closing remarks, Adegoke reaffirmed COFAAA’s commitment to advancing the continent’s cocoa agenda through its PPC Framework, which unites Producing, Processing, and Consuming Countries under one cooperative vision.
“This summit is not a ceremonial gathering; it is a declaration of intent, to rewrite the story of African cocoa from survival to prosperity,” he said.
“The value of cocoa is not only in the beans we export, but in the futures we can build through unity, processing, and sustainability. The future of cocoa belongs to Africa, and Africa must lead the way.”
Source: Access Agric
Image Credit: Andrew Ronald
