COCOBOD clarifies importation policy amidst leaked letter controversy

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has issued a statement clarifying recent social media misrepresentations regarding cocoa importation for processing by Ghanaian cocoa companies.

COCOBOD says all cocoa processing companies established in Ghana post-November 2001 are legally permitted to import cocoa beans for processing within the country.

The clarification comes in response to misinformation surrounding an official letter allegedly directing Afrotropic Cocoa Processing Company Limited to import cocoa beans for processing in Ghana. COCOBOD emphasized that the practice is a legal measure to enable companies to meet specific recipes for chocolate production and other purposes.

The statement further highlighted that the ability of post-November 2001 cocoa processing companies to import cocoa beans has been a longstanding industry practice. This approach allows companies to blend premium Ghana cocoa with beans from other producing countries, enhancing cost management and operational strategy.

COCOBOD urged the public to disregard the false claims circulating on social media and assured that the industry practices align with legal provisions, benefiting both the companies and the overall cocoa processing sector in Ghana.

Read the full statement below: