Cocoa Smuggling Tied to “Miscreants”, Not Russian Government: COCOBOD CEO Clarifies

Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has clarified recent comments on cocoa smuggling activities, stressing that the issue stems from miscreants within Ghana who are smuggling cocoa to foreign individuals, including some Russians based in neighboring countries, and not the Russian government itself.

This clarification follows a series of reports by some media outlets, which suggested that Mr. Aidoo had attributed the ongoing cocoa smuggling activities to the Russian government. COCOBOD has sought to correct the misconception to prevent diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

Mr. Aidoo made the earlier comments during a recent engagement with cocoa farmers in the Ashanti Region. At the meeting, he expressed concern over the significant challenges posed by cocoa smuggling to Ghana’s cocoa industry, noting how the illegal activities divert valuable resources, adversely affecting production levels and revenue generation for the sector.

But he says his comments were misreported. This prompted COCOBOD to issue a press release, urging accuracy in reporting on such sensitive issues.

“We wish to clarify that the Chief Executive did not, at any point, attribute the ongoing cocoa smuggling activities to the RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT. Rather, he expressed worry about miscreants in Ghana, smuggling cocoa to certain foreign individuals, including Russians, who are based in neighboring countries.”

COCOBOD explained that while the misreporting had the potential to cause diplomatic tensions, the organization remains focused on addressing the real issue at hand—combating cocoa smuggling and ensuring the sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa sector.

In addition, COCOBOD reiterated its commitment to working with both local and international partners to curb cocoa smuggling and protect the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.

Source:thehighstreetjournal.com