Ghana’s cocoa industry has suffered a major setback, with over 160,000 tons of cocoa lost to smuggling in the 2023/24 season, a Cocobod official revealed today.
This figure represents more than a third of the country’s total cocoa output.
The loss is significant as Ghana’s cocoa production for the season is projected to be the lowest in 20 years.
The decline is attributed to smuggling rings exploiting low local prices and payment delays.
Charles Amenyaglo, Cocobod’s director of special services, noted that smuggling losses have more than tripled this year compared to the previous season.
The anti-smuggling task force intercepted around 250 tons of cocoa, a substantial increase from last year’s 17 tons.
Ghana’s military will soon join the task force to address the smuggling crisis.
Smugglers have used various methods, including disguising cocoa in fuel tankers and tipper trucks.
Despite efforts to curb smuggling, challenges persist. The recent season’s poor financial management has exacerbated the problem.
Ghana has introduced a new funding model and a 45% increase in farmgate prices to combat the issue and support local farmers.
