Ghana COCOBOD Clarifies Brouhaha On Importation Of Cocoa Beans From Ivory Coast And Nigeria

The importation of cocoa beans by the nation from neighboring nations has been an industrial practice for more than 20 years, according to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCBOD).

Afrotropic Cocoa Processing Company Limited  has been given green light to import cocoa beans in a letter signed by Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).

Afrotropic Cocoa Processing Company is to import 2,500 cocoa beans from Ivory Coast and 1,000 from Nigeria.

This move by COCOBOD sparked reactions from stakeholders who expressed concerns about the state of the highest exporter now becoming an importer.

 

Read the letter below 

 

 

 

 

In response to this, COCOBOD, in a statement, stated that the practice is not something new.

“All processing companies in Ghana established post November 2001 are permitted by law to import cocoa beans for processing in Ghana. It is an industry practice that has existed for over 20 years to allow factories to import from other countries including, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Nigeria and Ecuador,” COCOBOD clarified.

The practice, COCOBOD explained, helps the companies meet their ‘desired recipes for chocolate production and other uses’, stressing that it also forms part of cost management.

“Ghana’s cocoa is a premium cocoa and as part of cost management and operational strategy, companies often blend premium Ghana Cocoa with less premium cocoa beans from other producing countries.”

COCOBOD bemoaned the content of the letter, which has been misinterpreted, calling on the public to “disregard the false claim deduced from the leaked letter.”

 

According to a document acquired by MyGhanaMedia.com, Ghana has been importing cocoa beans from neighboring nations ever since former President John Agyekum Kufuor took office.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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