Importation Of Cocoa Beans Is Industry Practice- COCOBOD

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has urged the public to bin the political rhetoric that has accompanied the leakage of approval for the importation of cocoa beans into Ghana, noting it is an industry practice.

According to the Board, the act has existed for 20 years despite leading cocoa production in the country.

A letter by COCOBOD dated January 25, 2024, gave approval for the importation of 3,500 tonnes of cocoa beans from Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria by AFROTROPIC COCOA PROCESSING COMPANY LTD leaked over the weekend raising eyebrows.

The concerns were premised on the fact that the world’s leading cocoa producers were importing the same.

In a press statement, the Board justified that the practice helps the companies meet their desired recipes for chocolate production and other uses.

“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.

“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.”