The Ghana Cocoa Board’s (COCOBOD) Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Taskforce has dealt a significant blow to cocoa smugglers, apprehending a driver and his assistant at Old Akrade in the Asuogyaman district. The duo was caught attempting to smuggle cocoa beans into neighboring Togo.
A tip-off received by the task force around midnight led to the successful operation. Surveillance revealed a staggering 100 bags of cocoa beans hidden under a load of chippings in a tipper truck with registration number GN-1773-24.
According to a national security source, the operation demonstrates the authorities’ commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s cocoa industry and combating illegal trading activities. The source noted that the smugglers likely used a ferry to cross the lake at Senchi, avoiding heavy security presence at the Adomi Bridge.
Ghana’s cocoa sector faces numerous challenges, including widespread smuggling, climate change, disease, and illegal mining activities. These factors have significantly impacted cocoa production, with Ghana producing only 429,323 metric tons by the end of June – less than 55% of the average production at the same point in previous seasons.
Cocoa smuggling has resulted in substantial losses for Ghana. The anti-smuggling task force estimates that the country lost around 160,000 tons of cocoa due to smuggling in 2023/24, more than triple the previous year’s losses.
However, efforts by the task force have yielded some positive results. In 2023/24, they intercepted approximately 250 tons of smuggled cocoa, a significant increase from the 17 tons intercepted in 2022/23.
Experts attribute the smuggling to the higher profitability of cocoa in Ivory Coast and Togo due to a more stable CFA france currency and less regulated sectors.
The Ghanaian government has taken measures to combat cocoa smuggling, including increasing the fixed price for cocoa by 58.26% to $2,188 (GH₵33,120) per tonne amidst a financial crisis in June 2024.
In September 2024, COCOBOD requested assistance from the Ministry of Defence to combat cocoa smuggling, leading to a new anti-smuggling initiative led by the Ghana Armed Forces.
The fight against cocoa smuggling is crucial for Ghana’s economy, as cocoa exports provide a consistent and reliable flow of foreign currency to the country’s national reserves.
