COCOBOD says importing cocoa has been going on since 2001

COCOBOD has described as “misinformation” the media reports on a leaked official letter from the board approving the importation of 2,500 metric tonnes of cocoa beans from neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria.

COCOBOD, in a statement dated Sunday, February 4, said such an arrangement has existed since November 2001, which spans over two decades.

The official letter, as sighted by 3news.com, which has since gone viral, approved the request of Afrotropic Cocoa Processing Company Limited to import 2,500 metric tonnes of the beans from Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria.

A situation that generated widespread backlash and criticism from the public and stakeholders. They expressed worry as the leading exporter of the cash crop was suddenly turning into an importer.

To clarify the ‘misinterpretation’ in a February 4 statement, COCOBOD said the practice is nothing new.

“All processing companies in Ghana established post-November 2001 are permitted by law to import cocoa beans for processing in Ghana. 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,” COCOBOD clarified.

COCOBOD emphasised that the practice is a component of cost management and that it assists the companies in fulfilling 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.”

COCOBOD expressed regret about the misconstrued meaning assigned to the content of the letter and urged people to “disregard the false claim deduced from the leaked letter.”

In a similar approval letter sighted by 3news.com, the board in 2016 gave clearance for Barry Callebaut Ghana Limited to import 100 metric tonnes of cocoa beans from Ecuador.

Read the full statement below: