Ghana and cocoa and chocolate companies have collaborated on a deal poised to protect and restore forests in cocoa-growing areas. With this agreement, the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and the Forestry Commission of Ghana (GFC) are building a partnership to further align the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Programme (GCFRP) and the Cocoa & Forests Initiative to achieve no-deforestation commitments. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed by GFC and WCF, commits the parties to work together in six regions where Ghana's government has made action to protect and restore forests a priority.

Ethan Budiansky, Director of Environment at WCF World Cocoa Foundation, says: “In 2021, our collective work on protecting and restoring forests, promoting sustainable cocoa production and farmers’ livelihoods, and engaging communities and boosting social inclusion is progressing fast. One of our main focuses this year is on landscape approaches in the six regions where Ghana’s government has made action to protect and restore forests a priority”.