Inner circles | Ghana, Ivory Coast
New cocoa initiative still far cry from Ouattara and Akufo-Addo's chocolate heaven

Ivory Coast
On a visit to Brussels, Conseil du Café Cacao revives battle with EU

Ivorian cocoa industry leaders have met European officials to demand recognition of their traceability system and an increase in the subsidy for sustainable cocoa. If it's not granted, they are threatening to continue blocking forward sales.

Ivory Coast
Ouattara eager to settle tax dispute with Cargill

The Ivorian president is keen for the US trader, which has been accused of failing to pay its taxes, to put its affairs in order. The US ambassador in Abidjan is keeping a close eye on developments.

The New Guard
Ivory Coast, Egypt, Kenya, Madagascar

Ivory Coast
Pauline Zei, spokeswoman for cocoa growers

Egypt
Ahmed Luxor, a PR veteran putting Egypt's richest in the frame

Kenya
Veronica Kariuki, a bridge between Paris and Nairobi

Madagascar
Ranto Andriambololona, AI left, right and centre

Ivory Coast
Power struggle between big business and Abidjan slows cocoa campaign

International traders and chocolate manufacturers are limiting purchases of cocoa beans in Ivory Coast. The local regulatory board is requiring them to acquire 20% from local exporters, and they are unable to find enough 'sustainable' material locally.

Ghana, Ivory Coast
Why West African producers snubbed World Cocoa Foundation meeting

The business and political leaders of Ivory Coast and Ghana's cocoa sectors did not attend the partnership meeting between the world's chocolate producers in Brussels this week. Their aim was to put pressure on European decision-makers working on new supply standards.

Spotlight | Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria
Cameroon and Nigeria's talks with cocoa cartel bear fruit

Details have emerged about Yaoundé et Abuja's talks in Abidjan to join the Ivory Coast-Ghana Cocoa Initiative, set up to defend the interests of the world's two largest cocoa producers.

Ghana
Cocobod grapples with cocoa farmers' associations

Communications between the cocoa sector regulator and the main bean producer organisations have become strained. The latter reproach the public body for not consulting them, particularly on the re-evaluation of the on-farm price, unchanged since 2019.

Ghana
Cocobod faces soaring fertiliser costs and large-scale illicit resales

Cocobod hasn't changed the price it charges cocoa farmers for fertiliser even though the international market price has gone through the roof. Meanwhile the illegal resale of the heavily subsidised fertilisers that it distributes to its Ghanaian affiliates is flourishing.

The New Guard
Guinea, Kenya, South Africa, Ghana

Guinea
Djami Diallo, key to negotiations on the Simandou iron ore project

Kenya
Ogutu Okudo, oil specialist and Odinga's spin doctor

South Africa
Maropene Ramokgopa, the pro-Ramaphosa leader of the ANC Women's League

Ghana
Tawiah Agyarko-Kwarteng, social and environmental spokesperson for the cocoa industry

West Africa
Abidjan and Accra allied against multinationals in new cocoa war

The heads of Ghana Cocobod and Ivory Coast's Conseil Café Cacao were in Accra last week to refine their joint strategy in the face of the industry's trading giants and industrialists, who are considering diversifying their supplies elsewhere.