The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has raised concerns over the drastic reduction in cocoa production in the Volta and Oti Regions over the past decade.
Statistics from the regulatory body indicate a decline of over 6,000 tons in the last four years, attributed in part to farmers selling to unauthorized buyers. COCOBOD also cited increasing cocoa smuggling as a major factor contributing to the sharp drop in production.
Under the leadership of COCOBOD Chair, Dr. Ofosu Ampofo, a team engaged farmers and stakeholders in the Volta and Oti Regions to identify the causes of reduced sales to the government and discuss possible solutions.
During separate sessions, farmers pointed to delayed payments by the Produce Buying Company (PBC) as the main reason they opted to sell to individuals who pay upfront.
The Volta Oti Regional Chief Farmer, Nana Kwane Abass, also highlighted security lapses, claiming some officials are complicit in smuggling cocoa beans. “Cocoa bags don’t have wings to fly; they move along the roads, and some of these roads even have barriers, but they are not intercepted,” he lamented.
Dr. Ampofo noted that Ghana loses substantial foreign exchange due to cocoa smuggling, which adversely affects the national economy. He called for a stakeholder-driven approach to tackle the problem.
“After all the resources invested in the cocoa sector, cocoa is being freely exported to Togo or Côte d’Ivoire, which have done virtually nothing. You see the harm this is doing to the economy,” he said.
The COCOBOD Chair also highlighted the impact on government sales, explaining that production between 2023 and 2024 dropped to 450,000 metric tons from a projected 800,000 due to smuggling and other irregularities.
To address the issue of delayed payments, Dr. Ampofo encouraged farmers to trade with certified buying companies that pay upfront, which would support the country’s economy and justify government investment in the sector.
The Volta Regional Minister, James Gunu, issued a stern warning to anyone attempting to use his jurisdiction as a transit route for smuggling cocoa to Togo. “We will deal ruthlessly with those involved in cocoa smuggling. If you think you can use the Volta Region as a transit point, you better change your mind,” he said.
Similarly, Oti Regional Minister, John Kwadwo Gyapong, pledged to work with the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to find practical ways to end smuggling and to encourage youth involvement in cocoa cultivation. He emphasized that boosting local production would increase yields while advocating for greater independence of his jurisdiction under the COCOBOD regional structure.
“REGSEC will address this issue. We will meet and find ways to combat cocoa smuggling in the Oti Region,” he stated.