Police Deny Facilitating Cocoa Smuggling in Viral Security Officers’ Scuffle

The Ghana Police Service has clarified the circumstances that led to a viral scuffle between its personnel and personnel of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) two days ago at a checkpoint in the Upper East Region.

According to a statement by the police, the consignment of bags of cocoa beans which was the bone of contention was not being smuggled with the help of the police.

“We wish to state that the Ghana Police Service {on} 9th October 2024, intercepted the smuggled consignment based on intelligence and were in the process of escorting the truck to the Bawku Divisional Police Command for the consignment to be handed over to COCOBOD and the culprits investigated and prosecuted by the Police in line with established protocol with Ghana COCOBOD.”

It noted that that was not the first time in recent days that a smuggled consignment had been intercepted and handed over to authorities of the COCOBOD.

“For the record, the Police recently intercepted smuggled cocoa beans on two occasions within the region, and the intercepted consignments were handed over to COCOBOD, while the suspects are currently being prosecuted by the Police. It is, therefore, untrue that the Police were in any way facilitating the smuggled consignments, as being claimed.”

The leadership of the various security agencies have since engaged in a national-level discourse to maintain harmony and restore cooperation among the agencies involved.

Additionally, the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) under the chairmanship of the Upper East Regional Minister, is also meeting the personnel and their leaders at the regional level to complement the efforts made at the national level, the police relayed.

Source: Opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini