Four suspects have been arrested for allegedly smuggling more than 100 bags of cocoa beans from Côte d’Ivoire into Ghana during a joint security operation in the Bono Region.
The arrests were made at Nkrankwanta in the Dormaa West District after officers intercepted a truck carrying the cocoa beans.
The operation was carried out by the Anti-Smuggling Unit of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) in collaboration with other security agencies.
Truck Intercepted with Over 100 Bags of Cocoa
Speaking at a press conference in Sunyani, Bono Regional Minister Joseph Addae Akwaboa said authorities acted on intelligence that led to the seizure.
“The operation led to the interception of a truck loaded with more than 100 bags of cocoa believed to have been smuggled from Côte d’Ivoire to Ghana,” he said.
According to the minister, the suspects are currently in custody and assisting with ongoing police investigations.
He added that they are expected to face prosecution after investigations are completed.
Tip-Off Came During Community Tour
Mr Akwaboa said the operation was triggered by information he received during his “Accounting to the People Series” tour across communities in the area.
During the engagement, local cocoa farmers reportedly complained that some Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) and cocoa clerks had failed to buy cocoa beans from them, despite receiving financial clearance from the government.
He said some of the buyers were instead allegedly purchasing cocoa smuggled across the Ghana–Côte d’Ivoire border.
Security Tightened at Smuggling Hotspots
The Regional Minister said security surveillance has now been intensified in known smuggling-prone areas across the Bono Region to prevent further illegal trade.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Ghana’s cocoa industry, which remains one of the country’s most important export sectors.
According to him, safeguarding the cocoa sector is essential to improving the livelihoods of farmers and maintaining the country’s economic interests.
Warning Against Politicising Cocoa Trade
Mr Akwaboa also urged the public and stakeholders not to politicise cocoa purchasing issues, warning that doing so could harm national interests and undermine efforts to regulate the sector.
By: Janice Opoku-Agyemang
