The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has initiated a reward package for border security agencies who intercept smuggled cocoa beans into neighbouring countries.
Two thirds of proceeds derived from seized products shall be given to officers who intercept the smuggled goods.
The move is to motivate the security agencies to curb smuggling of Ghana’s cocoa which is premium among all cocoa in the world.
The Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo disclosed this in a media engagement in Ho.
Mr. Boahen Aidoo is on a three-day working tour of the Volta and Oti Regions with some board members of COCOBOD.
The team will interact with cocoa farmers as well as inspect cocoa farms and COCOBOD project sites in the Volta and Oti regions.
Mr. Aidoo commended the Volta Regional Security Council for their efforts in clamping down smuggling of cocoa beans into the Republic of Togo which affects the country’s revenue generation.
The Council has since last year intercepted over 600 bags of smuggled cocoa beans along the Ghana-Togo Border.
Mr. Boahen Aidoo bemoaned that Ghana loses about 400 dollars from every ton of cocoa beans that is smuggled apart from the terminal market price.
Mr Aidoo noted that COCOBOD will soon distribute over three million hybrid cocoa seedlings for cocoa farmers in the Volta Region. It has also initiated a mass pruning exercise on cocoa farms across the country as part of efforts to improve cocoa production.
Meanwhile COCOBOD and government have finalized agreements with contractors for works to resume on the Have-Hohoe and Hohoe-Jasikan portions of the eastern corridor road.
Rolider Ghana, the firm working on the Hohoe-Jasikan portions of the eastern corridor road has returned to site and work is progressing steadily.
The two projects which are under the cocoa road projects are being funded by the Ghana Cocoa Board and government and are expected to be completed within two to three years.
The Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa commended management of COCOBOD for the initiatives and gave the assurance that the Regional Coordinating Council will ensure that Volta Region increases its cocoa production as a key player in the sector.
