A document shared by Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Nelson-Rockson Dafeamekpor, reveals that Ghana, known to be one of the major producers of cocoa, is now importing cocoa beans from Ivory Coast and Nigeria.
The MP shared a letter by Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to Afrotropic Cocoa Processing Plant approving the importation of 2,500 tonnes of cocoa beans from Ivory Coast and 1,000 tonnes of cocoa beans from Nigeria.
The cocoa beans are only to arrive in Ghana through the Tema port, the letter signed by Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo on January 25, 2024, communicated.
“Your letter dated 22nd January, 2024 on the above subject refers. We write to inform you that Management has approved your request to import 2,500 tonnes of cocoa beans from Cote d’Ivoire and 1,000 tonnes from Nigeria. This should, however, be done only by sea through the Tema Port.
“You are, therefore, requested to provide detailed information on the following:
i. Name of Vessel
ii. Shipment schedule
iii. Quantity of beans to be imported i.e. whether the importation would be in one
bulk otherwise, state quantity per shipment
iv. Expected date/time of arrival
“In connection with this approval, you are required to obtain all necessary authorizations from the relevant state institutions including Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority before commencing the importation,” the statement indicated.
This startling information has left Mr Dafeamekpor peeved as government in previous years indicated that Ghana had increased its cocoa production.
“Yet, we were told by this Govt in 2022 led by Dr. Afriyie Akoto, that they’ve doubled our cocoa production,” he wrote.
Cocoa is one of the key exports for Ghana. But the exportation of cocoa now hangs in the balance due to the activities of illegal miners, which government has failed to nip in the bud.
A research by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has revealed a widespread loss of cocoa farms to illegal small-scale mining activities, popularly known as galamsey.
80 percent of selected cocoa farms in the Western, Ashanti and Eastern Regions were found to have been devastated by illegal mining.
Per the latest statistics, over 19,000 acres out of the over 20,000 cocoa-farm acreage selected in these regions were ravaged by the galamsey menace between 2019 and 2020.
It is believed that due to the extensive damage caused by galamsey, government has now resorted to importing cocoa beans.