The Chairman of the Board of Directors of COCOBOD, Dr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, has led a one-day working visit to the Oti and Volta Regions as part of intensified efforts to tackle cocoa smuggling along Ghana’s eastern borders — a situation he says continues to contribute to low cocoa arrivals.
Dr Ofosu-Ampofo, accompanied by some members of the COCOBOD Board, engaged key stakeholders, including the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and the Traditional Councils in Hohoe and Jasikan.
He stated that the two regions have the potential to become Ghana’s next major cocoa production hubs due to their expansive tracts of fertile, undeveloped land.
He emphasised that government, through COCOBOD, has committed significant resources to revive the country’s cocoa sector and counter the escalating smuggling incidents that threaten its sustainability.
“There has been substantial investment aimed at restoring the cocoa industry, and we cannot allow smuggling to undermine these efforts,” Dr Ofosu-Ampofo said, urging security agencies and traditional authorities to step up collaboration in safeguarding the sector.
He called on all stakeholders to work together to protect what he described as Ghana’s heritage crop, stressing that curbing smuggling is essential to ensuring national revenue, farmer livelihoods and the long-term viability of the cocoa industry.
