COCOBOD, REGSEC must unite to clamp down on Cocoa smuggling –Ofosu Ampofo

COCOBOD Board Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, has called for a stronger, more coordinated partnership between the Ghana Cocoa Board and Regional Security Councils (REGSECs) to clamp down on the growing menace of cocoa and farm-input smuggling.

He made the call during a three-day working visit to the Western Region, where he held discussions with the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson and other key stakeholders.

Mr Ofosu Ampofo revealed that COCOBOD has this year alone distributed US$5.8 million worth of free agricultural inputs to cocoa farmers across the country.

He expressed concern that the huge investment is at risk as some farmers divert both the inputs and their cocoa beans onto illegal markets.

According to him, the smuggling challenge has evolved beyond cocoa beans to include fertilisers and other inputs supplied at no cost to farmers. This, he said, undermines government efforts to boost yields and threatens national revenue.

He stressed that enhanced collaboration with REGSEC would enable security agencies to better understand smuggling networks, track the movement of subsidised inputs and strengthen monitoring systems along the country’s borders.

Responding to the concerns, the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, admitted that gaps in communication and coordination between COCOBOD and the Regional Coordinating Councils have hindered the fight against smuggling.

He called for immediate measures to streamline information flow and strengthen joint operations.

In a related development, COCOBOD’s Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Operations, Dr. James Kofi Kutsoati, disclosed that the Board is implementing reforms in its input-distribution model.

The new strategy will transition corporatised farmer groups into a more efficient task-force system aimed at improving the management of cocoa pests and diseases.

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