COCOBOD calls for stronger regional security collaboration to combat cocoa smuggling in Ghana
COCOBOD warns cocoa smuggling is costing Ghana billions and urges tighter coordination with regional security authorities.
GHANA – The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has called for enhanced collaboration with Regional Security Councils to curb the rising incidence of cocoa smuggling, warning that the practice poses a serious threat to the sustainability of the country’s cocoa sector.
Speaking during a meeting with the Western Regional Minister in Sekondi as part of a three-day working tour, COCOBOD Board Chairman Samuel Ofosu Ampofo described cocoa smuggling as a national challenge that is increasingly undermining industry performance.
He said the issue has expanded beyond the illegal export of cocoa beans to include the diversion and unlawful sale of farm inputs intended to support cocoa farmers.
Ampofo noted that COCOBOD distributed agricultural inputs worth US$5.8 million this year to enhance farm productivity. However, he expressed concern that weak coordination with regional authorities increases the risk of these resources being misappropriated.
According to him, limited awareness of COCOBOD’s operational structures among some regional administrations has constrained effective monitoring and enforcement.
He stressed that closer partnerships with Regional Security Councils would strengthen the ability of security agencies to identify smuggling networks, monitor the movement of cocoa beans and inputs, and improve oversight in key cocoa-growing areas.
Ampofo said such cooperation is critical to safeguarding both farmer support programmes and national cocoa revenues.
In related remarks, COCOBOD Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Operations, Dr James Kofi Kutsoati, highlighted reforms underway to restructure the cocoa input distribution system.
He said cooperative groups are being reorganised into a dedicated taskforce aimed at improving disease and pest control on cocoa farms, as part of broader efforts to raise productivity.
COCOBOD has set a production target of 650,000 metric tonnes for the current season as it seeks to revive the sector. However, Ampofo expressed concern that national output has declined sharply, with current production estimated at about 450,000 metric tonnes.
He identified smuggling as a key contributor to the decline, noting that large volumes of cocoa beans continue to be illegally transported to neighbouring countries, particularly Togo and Côte d’Ivoire.
According to COCOBOD data, Ghana lost more than US$1.1 billion to cocoa smuggling between the 2021/22 and 2024/25 seasons.
The 2023/24 season recorded the highest losses, with 253,212 tonnes smuggled, valued at approximately US$658.3 million. In the ongoing 2024/25 season, an estimated 29,623 tonnes have already been smuggled, resulting in losses of about US$143.7 million.
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