The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has dismissed a social media post that claimed the state-owned agency had granted permission to a local cocoa processing company to import cocoa beans from neighboring countries.
The post, which circulated widely on various platforms, showed a letter purportedly signed by the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, authorizing Afrotropic Cocoa Processing Company Limited to import 2,500 tonnes of cocoa beans from Côte d’Ivoire and 1,000 tonnes from Nigeria.
The letter, dated January 25, 2024, stated that the importation was to enable the company to process cocoa in Ghana and meet its desired recipes for chocolate production and other uses.
However, in a statement issued on Monday, February 5, 2024, COCOBOD clarified that the letter was genuine but had been misinterpreted by some social media users to create the impression that Ghana was facing a cocoa shortage and had to rely on imports.
The statement explained that the importation of cocoa beans by processing companies in Ghana was a long-standing industry practice that had existed for over 20 years and was permitted by law.
According to the statement, Ghana’s cocoa is premium and as part of cost management and operational strategy, companies often blend premium Ghana cocoa with less premium cocoa beans from other producing countries.
The statement added that the importation of cocoa beans by processing companies did not affect the country’s cocoa production or export figures, as the imported beans were processed in Ghana and re-exported as semi-finished or finished products.
The statement further assured the public that Ghana remained a leading cocoa producer in the world and had recorded an estimated 1.1 million metric tonnes of cocoa beans production in the 2020/2021 crop season.
The statement also indicated that the current 2021/2022 crop season was expected to yield higher output, as COCOBOD had implemented various interventions to boost cocoa productivity and quality.
The statement urged the public to disregard the false claim and any attempt to tarnish the image and reputation of COCOBOD and the Ghanaian cocoa sector.
Ghana is the world’s second-largest cocoa producer after Côte d’Ivoire, and cocoa is one of the main pillars of its economy, contributing about 25% of the country’s foreign exchange earnings and supporting the livelihoods of millions of farmers and their families.
The country is also known for its high-quality cocoa beans, which attract a premium price on the international market and are preferred by chocolate manufacturers for their flavor and aroma.
COCOBOD is the government institution responsible for regulating, overseeing, and promoting the cocoa sector in Ghana. It sets the producer price for cocoa farmers, purchases and exports cocoa beans, and provides various services and incentives to enhance cocoa production and quality.
COCOBOD also supports the development of the local cocoa processing industry, which adds value to the raw cocoa beans and creates employment opportunities and income for the country.
Source: MyJoyOnline
