Joseph Boahen Aidoo
In a bid to clear the air on the recent cocoa smuggling controversy, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has issued a rejoinder to set the record straight.
COCOBOD says its recent statement on smuggling of cocoa beans was misreported. The misreported statement was attributed to the Chief Executive, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, implicated the Russian government in the smuggling activities.
In a statement from COCOBOD, it stated that the Chief Executive’s comments were taken out of context, and he never attributed the cocoa smuggling activities to the Russian government.
Instead, he expressed concern about miscreants in Ghana smuggling cocoa to foreign individuals, including Russians, based in neighboring countries.
This clarification is crucial, as the misreporting has the potential to create unnecessary diplomatic tension between Ghana and Russia.
However, COCOBOD has urged all media houses to ensure accuracy in their reportage, especially on sensitive matters that could have international implications.
The cocoa smuggling scandal has been a long-standing issue in Ghana, with the country losing millions of dollars in revenue each year.
In 2020, COCOBOD reported that cocoa smuggling had increased by 20%, with most of the smuggled cocoa being sold to neighboring countries.
The government has taken steps to address the issue, including the deployment of security personnel to the borders and the establishment of a task force to monitor the cocoa trade.
-BY Daniel Bampoe