Ghana Pavilion, Blue Zone, Scottish Event Campus (SEC), UNFCCC COP26, Glasgow, Scotland
On Wednesday, 3rd November, 2021, between the hours of 12:00 and 13:00 UK time, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor hosted and participated in a panel discussion, Cocoa and Forests Initiative Forum, at the UNFCCC COP26, held in Glasgow, Scotland.
The program was moderated by the CEO of IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative, Daan Wensing. On the panel were the President of the World Cocoa Foundation, Martin Short, the Minister for Environment and Sustainable Development, Columbia, Hon. Carlos Eduardo Correa, the Representative from the Ministry of Water and Forests, Cote d’Ivoire, Ynsa Traore, the Deputy Chief Executive, Ghana Cocoa Board, Dr. Emmanuel Opoku, Senior Director, Sustainable Ingredients & Cocoa life at Mondelez International, Cathy Pieters, Vice President Global Head of Public Affairs and ESG Engagement at Nestle, Rob Cameron, Chief Procurement and Sustainability Officer/Board Chair at Mars, Incorporated, Barry Parkin as co-panel members.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in his submission, mentioned the successes of the CFI and its contribution to climate change and sustainable development in Ghana. Both the Governments of Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, the World Cocoa Foundation, IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative, and the Cocoa and Chocolate Producing Companies present at the event all affirmed their unflinching commitment to the CFI processes and highlighted the progress made by the CFI over the past few years as well as some challenges.
The Panelist agreed that the Public-Private-Partnership has been successful and is the best vehicle to address the issue of deforestation and forest degradation within the cocoa sector. Majority of the panelist disagreed that the CFI is still a baby but rather an adult that needs sustainable financing to maintain its momentum in order to achieve key commitments in the Joint Framework for Action. The donor community and other organizations were urged to consider investing into the CFI processes as well as for the Cocoa and Chocolate Producing Companies to sustain the interest and make more investments for enhanced impacts.
