The Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Taskforce of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), working alongside national security, successfully arrested a driver and his mate at Old Akrade in the Asuogyaman district. The duo was caught attempting to smuggle cocoa beans out of the country.
According to a national security insider who spoke to the Ghana News Agency, the arrest was made after a tip-off late at night. The tip revealed that some individuals were secretly transporting cocoa beans to Togo. Acting on this information, the task force conducted surveillance and 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 critical move in the fight against cocoa smuggling in Ghana, showing the government’s dedication to protecting the cocoa industry. Smugglers often attempt to illegally transport cocoa across the border to Togo, threatening the nation’s agricultural economy.
Due to the heavy presence of security officials, including the military and immigration officers, on the Adomi Bridge’s two toll booths, the suspects were believed to have crossed the lake at Senchi by ferry, hoping to bypass these checkpoints and reach Juapong undetected.
Ghana’s cocoa industry is currently under strain from various challenges, including increased smuggling, climate change, plant diseases, and illegal mining activities. Experts have pointed out that cocoa smuggling has been driven, in part, by the fact that cocoa is more profitable in neighboring Ivory Coast and Togo due to a stable CFA franc currency and less regulation.
By the end of June 2024, Ghana had produced 429,323 metric tons of cocoa, a drop of over 45% compared to the same period in previous seasons. The anti-smuggling task force revealed that cocoa smuggling losses have surged in the 2023/24 season, with an estimated 160,000 tons lost due to illegal trade. Despite these challenges, the task force has made some progress, intercepting about 250 tons of cocoa—an improvement from 17 tons in the 2022/23 season.
This operation serves as a reminder of the growing need for more stringent measures to protect the cocoa industry, as losses from smuggling have devastating effects on Ghana’s economy.
Source:dailymailgh.com