On May 6th, 2025, right here in Accra, Ghana, we witnessed something truly inspiring: ten countries from West and Central Africa came together with one big mission, to strengthen their commitment to sustainable agriculture.

The event was the 9th Regional Meeting of the Africa Sustainable Commodities Initiative (ASCI), a platform that promotes responsible agricultural production while protecting forests, supporting farmers, and uplifting communities. It was powerful to see how nations like Ghana, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, and others, representing a whopping 25% of the world’s tropical forests, are taking bold steps to ensure that agriculture works with nature, not against it.

At Soko Bags, we believe strongly in this kind of future,  one where sustainability, community, and innovation walk hand in hand. ASCI builds on earlier efforts like the Africa Palm Oil Initiative and now includes a wider range of commodities like cocoa, coffee, and rubber. The message is clear: we can produce the things we need in ways that preserve our environment and uplift our people.

What stood out most during the meeting were the key focus areas:

  • Celebrating 10 years of partnerships between public and private sectors to build policies that support responsible farming.

  • Discussing how responsible investment can empower smallholder farmers and improve global trade in African agricultural products.

  • And perhaps most exciting, brainstorming ways to unlock climate finance that helps countries meet their Paris Agreement goals.

This initiative was also recently honored with the 2025 Schwab Foundation Award for Collective Social Innovation,  well deserved for the tremendous effort being made across borders and sectors.

We at Soko Bags are constantly inspired by the people and projects across Ghana and Africa who are committed to making a greener future possible. Whether it’s through sustainable farming, clean energy, or eco-friendly products, we all play a role in building that future.

Let’s keep the momentum going. Let’s keep creating, collaborating, and caring for our planet and our communities, one bag, one farm, one tree at a time.