Ghana advances to meet Global Standards in the Cocoa Sector
Ghana is taking bold steps to secure a sustainable and competitive future for its cocoa sector as global market requirements continue to evolve. With consumer expectations shifting toward ethically sourced products and regulators demanding stricter environmental compliance, Ghana is proactively strengthening the systems, policies, and partnerships needed to safeguard its position as one of the world’s leading cocoa producers.
This commitment was reaffirmed at a high-level workshop in Accra, where the GIZ–Sustainable Cocoa Programme (SCP) convened 14 Senior Management Officials of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) for a strategic review of progress on the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System. Speaking at the event, Celine Prud’homme Madsen, Programme Manager for Agriculture at the European Union Delegation to Ghana underlined that “the European Union acknowledges Ghana’s leadership in sustainable cocoa production. Embracing sustainability is no longer optional, it is essential. What was once voluntary is becoming mandatory.” she emphasized.
Driving compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and the African Regional Standard
The workshop focused on assessing milestones achieved under the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System and mapping the way forward for Ghana’s alignment with the EUDR; a policy that requires strict traceability and verification of cocoa supply chains. The Ghana Cocoa Traceability System, a key innovation by COCOBOD, is positioned as a foundational system for establishing the ARS on transparency and traceability across the cocoa value chain. By setting a unified benchmark at the regional level, the ARS will help African producers position themselves competitively in both, continental and global markets, reduce compliance gaps between countries, and streamline engagement with regional and international regulators. Ultimately, COCOBOD’s leadership through the Ghana Cocoa Traceability System is helping to shape the architecture of Africa’s collective response to sustainability demands, ensuring that cocoa from the region remains trusted, traceable, and future-ready.
According to Claudia Maier, Programme Manager for the GIZ- Sustainable Cocoa Programme: “The Ghana Cocoa Traceability System serves not only as Ghana’s compliance tool but also as a pioneering blueprint that can guide the continent in building stronger, credible, and interoperable traceability systems. Ghana has the potential to become a hub for sustainable agricultural products.” Reinforcing Ghana’s readiness, Dr. Wisdom Dogbey, Managing Director of the Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC), stated: “We have customers who have requested for the due diligence certificate, and CMC COCOBOD is in a position to offer the certificate to them.” COCOBOD reaffirmed its dedication to leading with integrity while protecting Ghana’s forests and safeguarding the livelihoods of thousands of cocoa farmers who supply global markets.
A resilient cocoa future is built on accountability, innovation, and shared responsibility. Ghana is rising to the challenge.
This initiative is part of the Sustainable Cocoa Programme, funded by the European Union and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in cooperation with Ghana Cocoa Board-COCOBOD.