Four individuals have been apprehended for allegedly trafficking over 100 bags of cocoa beans from Côte d’Ivoire into Ghana, as a result of a collaborative effort by the Anti-Smuggling Unit of the Ghana Cocoa Board and various security agencies.
The Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, reported that the arrests occurred in Nkrankwanta, within the Dormaa West District, after officials intercepted a truck carrying cocoa.
“The operation resulted in the interception of a truck containing more than 100 bags of cocoa believed to have been smuggled from Côte d’Ivoire to Ghana,” he stated during a press conference in Sunyani.
He mentioned that the operation was initiated following a tip-off he received while conducting his “Accounting to the People Series” tour in the region, where he interacted with local communities.
According to him, cocoa farmers expressed concerns that certain Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) and cocoa clerks had not purchased beans from them, despite having received financial clearance from the government.
Instead, he noted, some buyers were reportedly obtaining cocoa from smugglers operating along the Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire border.
“Investigations led to the apprehension of suspects… and they are currently aiding police inquiries,” Akwaboa remarked, adding that the suspects would face prosecution.
He indicated that security operations have been heightened across known smuggling hotspots in the region to combat illegal activities.
Akwaboa reiterated the government’s dedication to safeguarding the integrity of Ghana’s cocoa sector and enhancing the livelihoods of farmers.
He also called on the public to refrain from politicizing cocoa purchasing, cautioning that such behavior undermines national interests.
