COCOBOD offers cash rewards to fight cocoa smuggling

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has intensified its campaign against the growing menace of cocoa smuggling with the introduction of a new cash reward scheme designed to incentivise public participation in exposing illicit trade activities along Ghana’s borders.

In a statement issued by the Board, COCOBOD announced that individuals who provide credible information leading to the arrest and confiscation of smuggled cocoa will receive one-third of the total value of the seized goods as a reward.

“Informants and anti-smuggling agents will receive one-third of the assessed value of confiscated cocoa as their reward,” the statement read.

The Board explained that the revised incentive policy forms part of a broader effort to sustain the national anti-smuggling campaign, enhance public collaboration and protect Ghana’s cocoa sector, which remains a key pillar of the economy.

“This reviewed scheme is designed to ensure the sustainability of the anti-smuggling campaign while maintaining strong public participation in the collective effort to curb cocoa smuggling,” it indicated.

Cocoa smuggling has become a persistent threat to Ghana’s economy, particularly in border regions. Smugglers exploit price differentials between Ghana and neighbouring countries such as Côte d’Ivoire and Togo, transporting cocoa beans illegally for higher profits.

The practice denies the state significant export revenue and undermines the hard work of genuine farmers and other stakeholders in the cocoa value chain.

“Cocoa smuggling continues to deprive the nation of revenue and denies value chain actors the full benefits of their hard work,” COCOBOD emphasised.

To strengthen community vigilance, COCOBOD urged citizens in border towns and hotspot communities to remain alert and report suspicious activities.

The Board provided a dedicated Special Anti-Smuggling Task Force hotline, 0308-040-107, assuring that all reports will be handled confidentially and that rewards will be paid promptly upon verification.

The anti-smuggling initiative also aligns with COCOBOD’s broader agenda to safeguard Ghana’s premium cocoa brand, which commands international recognition for its high quality.

The Board noted that unchecked smuggling not only reduces national revenue but also distorts domestic supply, complicates procurement for licensed buying companies and threatens the sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa marketing system. “COCOBOD reiterates its commitment to protecting the cocoa sector for the benefit of farmers, the economy and the future of Ghana’s cocoa industry,” the statement added.