Ghana is set to take centre stage in the global cocoa industry after being selected to host the 2027 World Cocoa Foundation Partnership Meeting in Accra, a development officials say underscores the country’s strategic importance in shaping the future of cocoa production worldwide.
The Country Director of the World Cocoa Foundation, Dr Mawuli Cofie, said Ghana’s selection reflects its longstanding leadership in cocoa production and the central role of farming communities in sustaining the global chocolate supply chain.
He made the remarks following the announcement that the high-level meeting will be held in Accra from March 16 to 18, 2027, under the theme: “From Origin to Global Resilience.”
The event is expected to bring together major players in the global cocoa and chocolate industry at a time when the sector is facing mounting pressure from climate change, crop diseases and economic uncertainty.
Dr Cofie warned that challenges such as Cocoa Swollen Shoot Viral Disease (CSSVD), erratic weather patterns and rising production risks were threatening cocoa yields and farmer livelihoods across producing countries.
He stressed that without stronger investment in farmers, the global cocoa supply chain would remain vulnerable.
“Resilient cocoa supply chains can only be achieved through resilient farmers,” he said, adding that sustainability efforts must prioritise farm-level economics rather than focusing solely on downstream industry gains.
According to him, the future of cocoa depends on improving farmer incomes, expanding access to finance, boosting productivity and making cocoa farming attractive to young people who are increasingly drifting away from agriculture.
The 2027 Partnership Meeting, he noted, will provide a critical platform for governments, industry leaders, research institutions and development partners to confront structural challenges affecting the cocoa sector.
Discussions will focus on disease control, climate resilience, farm rehabilitation, governance reforms and sustainable production systems designed to secure long-term supply stability.
Dr Cofie emphasised that hosting the meeting in Ghana places producing countries at the centre of global decision-making on cocoa, rather than treating them as peripheral actors in the value chain.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Randy Abbey, described the development as a major milestone for Ghana’s cocoa sector and a rare opportunity to reshape global conversations on cocoa sustainability.
He said the industry was under severe strain from climate change, swollen shoot disease, production costs and volatile global prices, despite the multi-billion-dollar value of the chocolate industry.
Dr Abbey argued that sustainability must go beyond environmental commitments to include fairer pricing systems and improved farmer welfare.
He noted that Ghana was already investing in climate-smart agriculture, traceability systems and quality enhancement measures aimed at improving competitiveness and sustainability in cocoa production.
He further called for stronger international commitments from cocoa buyers and chocolate manufacturers to support disease control, farm rehabilitation and fairer value distribution.
The 2027 meeting is expected to align with COCOBOD’s 80th anniversary and Ghana’s 70th independence anniversary, giving the event additional symbolic weight as the country positions itself as a global voice in cocoa governance and reform.
