COCOBOD Doing Its Best To Stop The Smuggling Of Cocoa

Joseph Boahen Aidoo, CEO of COCOBOD

Ghana is looking for the help of the military to battle the pirating of cocoa beans, a difficult situation impacting the country’s cocoa production.

Joseph Boahen Aidoo, CEO of COCOBOD, who settled on this decision also revealed that Russia’s Wagner Group is among the organizations engaged with the criminal operations.

Aidoo emphasized that while the regulator is working to address the issue, additional intervention from stakeholders, including the army, is essential at a media briefing prior to the launch of the 2024/25 cocoa price.

“Recently, we did some checks on a West African data survey, and it turned out that while Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire production is going down, Burkina Faso, Western Nigeria, and Guinea-Bissau are experiencing increases,” Aidoo explained.

“This tells us that something is happening—national miscreants and economic wreckers are smuggling cocoa to these regions and then on to international buyers, including Russians.”

To handle this issue, Mr. Aidoo has officially mentioned the Minister for Defence to activate military support.

“I have written to the Minister for Defence to come and assist. This is a national cause, and we need the military’s help to fight this menace,” he added.

Meanwhile, some farmers in cocoa-growing areas across the country have expressed dissatisfaction with the new pension scheme proposed by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), citing concerns over the contribution structure.

Producer Price Of Cocoa Increased For A Better Harvest Season

As indicated by the scheme, farmers are supposed to contribute 5% of their income, while COCOBOD will contribute 1%. This has been met with obstruction, as farmer reckon the contribution ratio should be reversed.

Speaking on this issue, CEO of COCOBOD Joseph Boahen Aidoo, explained that the regulator is now shifting its focus to more receptive districts while seeking to clarify the purpose and benefits of the pension scheme.

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