In a landmark move to redefine Africa’s cocoa industry, the Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA) has launched a global initiative aimed at securing economic justice, increasing local value addition, and strengthening Africa’s leadership in the multi-billion-dollar cocoa economy.
Speaking at the maiden COFAAA Global Webinar, themed “One Voice, One Future – Uniting Cocoa Farmers Through a Thriving Africa,” the association’s President and Global Coordinator, Comrade Adeola Adegoke, called for a radical shift in how African cocoa farmers engage with the global market.
Despite producing over 70% of the world’s cocoa, African farmers remain at the mercy of price instability, unfair trading practices, and economic marginalization. Meanwhile, the global chocolate industry, valued at over $120 billion annually, thrives on African cocoa without equitably rewarding the farmers who sustain it.
COFAAA is determined to change the status quo by pushing for better pricing mechanisms to ensure fair compensation for farmers, increased local processing and consumption to retain more value within Africa, Stronger policy frameworks to protect farmers from exploitation and greater youth participation to secure the industry’s future
Adegoke outlined a bold vision to scale up Africa’s cocoa industry to 4 million metric tonnes, representing 90% of global cocoa production, while increasing local value addition. This transformation will be driven by boosting farm productivity (800kg–1000kg per hectare), promoting sustainable cocoa agroforestry and climate-smart farming and implementing traceability systems to enhance quality and premium pricing and developing a strong processing sector to shift Africa from raw material supplier to finished product manufacturer
“We must not just be producers, we must be owners of our cocoa economy,” Adegoke emphasized.
COFAAA acknowledged the contributions of global cocoa institutions and African governments in sustaining the industry, including the International Cocoa Organization (ICCO), World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), Ghana Cocoa Board, and Cote d’Ivoire’s Conseil du Café-Cacao. However, Adegoke stressed the need for stronger trade policies, fairer profit distribution, and long-term farmer empowerment.
The webinar marked a critical moment in the fight for economic justice in the cocoa industry. “With one voice, one vision, and a shared commitment, we can transform Africa’s cocoa sector into a global model of sustainability and prosperity,” Adegoke declared.
COFAAA’s initiative signals a turning point that could finally shift power back to Africa’s cocoa farmers and ensure they reap the rewards of their labor.
