The Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Taskforce of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), in collaboration with national security, has arrested a driver and his assistant in Old Akrade, Asuogyaman district, for attempting to smuggle cocoa beans.
A national security source told the Ghana News Agency that the taskforce received a tip-off around midnight about individuals transporting cocoa beans to Togo.
Upon surveillance, the taskforce discovered 100 bags of cocoa beans hidden beneath a load of chippings in a tipper truck with the registration number GN-1773-24.
The source described the operation as a significant move against the rising issue of cocoa smuggling in the country, highlighting the authorities’ commitment to protecting Ghana’s cocoa industry and preventing illegal cross-border trade of cocoa beans to Togo.
“Because of the heavy security officials of the military and immigration at the two toll booths on the Adomi Bridge, we suspected them to have used a ferry to cross the lake at Senchi so that they would go through Juapong to their preferred location,” the security official said.
Recently, Ghana’s cocoa sector has been grappling with serious challenges, including widespread smuggling, the effects of climate change, disease outbreaks, and illegal mining activities.
Experts attribute the profitability of cocoa in neighboring Ivory Coast and Togo to their more stable CFA franc currency and less regulated sectors, making cocoa farming more attractive there compared to Ghana.
By the end of June, Ghana’s cocoa production stood at 429,323 metric tons, which is less than 55% of the average production recorded at the same point in previous seasons.
According to the anti-smuggling task force, cocoa losses due to smuggling have more than tripled in the 2023/24 season, with conservative estimates indicating that the country lost 160,000 tons.
Despite these alarming figures, the task force’s efforts have shown some marginal success, intercepting around 250 tons of smuggled cocoa, a significant increase from the 17 tons seized during the 2022/23 season.
Source: GNA
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