BY Issah Olegor
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is seeking tougher legal measures to clamp down on cocoa smuggling as authorities move to protect the country’s cocoa industry from increasing illegal cross-border trade.
The Deputy Director of Research at COCOBOD, Eric Amengor, has disclosed that government is considering a proposal that could impose a 10-year prison sentence on persons convicted of cocoa smuggling.
Speaking during the European Union Deforestation Regulation multi-stakeholder engagement held in Accra on Tuesday, Amengor revealed that a new COCOBOD bill currently before Cabinet also proposes fines of up to 200,000 penalty units, or both imprisonment and fines, for offenders involved in smuggling cocoa into or out of Ghana.
According to him, the reforms are intended to strengthen enforcement measures and deter organised cocoa smuggling activities which continue to threaten the cocoa economy.
He explained that authorities are also proposing the establishment of a special cocoa tribunal to ensure cocoa-related offences are prosecuted swiftly without prolonged delays in the courts.
“Yes, there is a new Cocoa Board law. We are reviewing our laws and making it very punitive for anyone who attempts to smuggle cocoa in or out of Ghana. We have proposed a 10-year jail term and 200,000 penalty units or both,” Amengor stated.
He added that the proposed cocoa tribunal would specifically handle cocoa-related offences to accelerate investigations, prosecutions, and judgments in smuggling cases.
The development comes at a time when cocoa smuggling has become a major national concern amid ongoing tensions in the cocoa sector over producer prices, delayed payments, and cross-border trade activities.
In recent months, political debates over cocoa smuggling intensified following allegations and counter-allegations between government officials and members of the opposition during nationwide cocoa farmers’ tours.
Meanwhile, Amengor also disclosed that COCOBOD is considering a major shift in financing cocoa purchases for the 2026/2027 crop season.
According to him, discussions are ongoing with the Ministry of Finance and local banks to secure domestic financing instead of relying on the traditional syndicated loans sourced from international markets.
“Instead of going for the syndicated loan, we are in talks with the Ministry of Finance and the banks. This 2026/2027 season, we intend to borrow locally to support cocoa purchases,” he said.
The move forms part of broader reforms being pursued by COCOBOD to strengthen the cocoa financing structure, improve sustainability within the sector, and reduce dependence on foreign-backed funding arrangements.
