Smuggling takes a heavy toll on Ghana’s cocoa revenue

Smuggling takes a heavy toll on Ghana’s cocoa revenue

Cocoa farmers allegedly hoard beans ahead of expected price surge

Director of Special Services at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Charles Amenyaglo has revealed that Ghana has lost a third of its cocoa within the 2023/24 season to smuggling activities.

Reports indicate that farmers in Ghana currently face the pressure induced by local prices and payment delays to give up their cocoa farms at a price to increasingly sophisticated trafficking rings.

The head of the COCOBOD anti-smuggling task force, pointed out that the country, produced 429,323 metric tons of cocoa by the end of June from the start of the season in September, less than 55% of the average at the same point in previous seasons and putting 2023/24 output on track for its biggest fall in more than two decades.

“Conservatively, I will say we lost 160,000 tons,” he said, adding that the task force also intercepted about 250 tons, up from 17 tons in 2022/23.

General Secretary of Ghana’s cocoa and coffee farmers association, expressed concern regarding the matter, touting the rate as alarming.

Mr. Amenyaglo notes that a number of smugglers have already been captured and has made hints of an imminent deployment of Ghana’s military to tackle smugglers.

Exit mobile version