Ghana’s Cocoa Sector Suffers as Smuggling Hits 120,000 Metric Tons

• COCOBOD CEO reveals alarming smuggling figures amid declining cocoa output
• Ghana increases cocoa farm gate price by 129% to combat smuggling and support farmers

Accra, Ghana – Ghana’s cocoa industry is facing severe challenges, with an estimated 120,000 metric tons of cocoa beans lost to smuggling between 2022 and 2023, according to Joseph Boahene Aidoo, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). The loss, he said, threatens the backbone of the country’s economy, as cocoa remains a vital export commodity.