Ghana lost over 7,000 tonnes of cocoa in Volta/Oti to smuggling in five years

Ghana has lost a total of 7,128.13 tonnes of cocoa to smuggling between 2020 and 2025 crop years in Volta and Oti regions. 

The tonnage recorded for 2020/21 crop year was 7,215 19, which reduced to 5,656.25 in 2021/22, further downward to 874.31 in the 2022/23 crop year while 2023/24 recorded 468.75 tonnes with 2024/25 crop year recording 87.06 tonnes. 

The revelation was made during an engagement at Jasikan with the Oti Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and stakeholders on cocoa smuggling in the Oti region. 

Mr Jake Kudjo Samahar, Director, Special Services, COCOBOD, said there were two categories of smuggling in the two regions being the local and transit smuggling to neighbouring countries. 

He said Ghana lost a total of US$1.1 billion from 2022 to 2025 through smuggling of cocoa to neighboring Togo and Cote d’Ivoire. 

Dr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Board Chairman, Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), said REGSEC needed to re-strategise and recommit themselves to fighting the menace of cocoa smuggling. 

He said the smuggling was becoming the “most lucrative business in the regions” and most people were venturing into it. 

Dr Ofosu-Ampofo said there were buying centres available in all regions that made it easier for farmers to sell their cocoa beans. 

Mr John Kwadwo Gyapong, Oti Regional Minister, urged COCOBOD to work hand in hand with the Oti REGSEC in tackling cocoa smuggling in the region. 

He said the Oti REGSEC would do everything possible to minimise the menace of cocoa smuggling in the region. 

Mr Gyapong said cocoa from farmers should be purchased at prices that would benefit farmers in the regions. 

He bemoaned weak and porous security checkpoints that allowed transit smuggling of cocoa beans from other places through the Oti and Volta regions to Togo. 

Nana Edje Tete Kpase Brantuo VII, Jasikanhene and Adontenhene of the Buem Traditional Area, appealed for access roads to hard-to-reach cocoa farms to be face-lifted to reduce the pain of farmers in transporting their produce to buying centres. 

He also called for the establishment of more buying centres in remote areas to help minimise cost in transporting produce from far off farms. 

Source: GNA