Supply Chain Resilience in the Cocoa Industry Amid Global Disruptions: A Comparative Case Study of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire

Abstract

The cocoa sector continues to be a backbone for the global agricultural sector, and Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire combined supply more than 60% of the world’s cocoa. The industry is economically vital; however, it remains highly susceptible to global shocks, including COVID-19, volatile international commodity prices, climate change, and logistical blockages in global trade. These disruptions have brought supply chain vulnerability to the forefront and have increased the need to respond with resilience to guarantee continued durability and reliability. This article is a comparative case study that investigates supply chain resilience in the cocoa sector in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, which are the world’s two leading cocoa producers. Based on secondary data sources derived from international organizations, government reports, and academic papers, this work investigates the formative process through which these two countries have responded to global disruptions through instruments ranging from price stabilization, farmer cooperatives, digital platforms, and sustainability certification programs. The results demonstrate that while Ghana is more focused on the bottom-up approach through farmer-led cooperatives and digital traceability, Côte d’Ivoire adopts a more top-down, policy-driven approach, especially in pricing reforms and state control over exports. The comparative insights emphasize how useful it is to combine aspects of each model in order to improve resilience. In addition to offering practical advice to policymakers, supply chain participants, and international development practitioners attempting to strike a fair balance between economic stability and environmental sustainability in international agricultural trade, the study components contribute to the body of literature on the resilience of agricultural supply chains.