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The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of COCOBOD, Fiifi Boafo has said that the importation of cocoa beans from other countries to complement that of Ghana by cocoa processing companies did not start today.
According to him, this has been the industry-practice since 2000 hence he has been shocked by the public reaction to a leaked response to AFROTROPIC COCOA PROCESSING CO. LTD, which had requested permission to import the beans from Cote d’Ivoire and Nigeria.
“Importing cocoa beans from other countries is very normal and has been an industry long practice…this is not the first time we are doing this…,” he told host of Angel Morning Show (AMS), Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah.
According to him, the reaction to the leaked letter was very shocking as all cocoa processing companies in the country are permitted by Law to import cocoa from Cote d’ lvoire and Nigeria.”
He explained further that the cocoa processing companies do this to so they can blend them with the high quality beans from Ghana to maximise profit.
“This helps the companies to maximise their desired recipes for chocolates production and other uses…,” he added.
Below is a full response from COCOBOD:
The response letter from COCOBOD captioned RE: IMPORTATION OF COCOA BEANS FROM COTE D’IVOIRE AND NIGERIA, dated 25/01/2024 was signed by Chief Executive, Joseph Boahen.
It reads:
Your letter dated 22nd January 2024 on the above subject refers. We wish to inform you that management has approved your request to import 2,500 tonnes of cocoa beans from Cote d’Ivoire and 1,000 tonnes from Nigeria.
This should, however, be done only by sea, through the Tema Port. You are, therefore, requested to provide detailed information on the following,
- Name of vessel
- Shipment schedule
iii. Quantity of beans to be imported, i.e. whether the importation would be in one bulk, otherwise state quantity per shipment.
- Expected date/time of arrival
In connection with the approval, you are required to obtain all necessary authorisations from the relevant state institutions, including Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority before commencing the importation.
The unfailing source made reference to early 2000 when Barry Callebaut Ghana Ltd applied to Ministry of Food and Agriculture to import same.
The letter, with the caption: PERMIT TO IMPORT COCOA BEANS FOR PROCESSING IN GHANA, states:
I write in reaction to letter reference No DCE/OPS/123/V.1/41 dated 12th November 2007 on the above subject. The letter was received from the Deputy Chief Executive (OPS), Ghana Cocoa Board addressed to Honourable Minister and copied to seven others.
I am grateful to inform you that your application to import cocoa beans for processing in Ghana from Nigeria has been approved.
The correspondence was signed by Chief Director, Dr Gyiele Nurah, for the Minister of Food and Agriculture.
On 22nd November 2016, COCOBOD in a response to another request by Barry Callebaut states, RE: REQUEST TO IMPORT 100 MT OF COCOA BEANS FOR PROCESSING IN GHANA.
Your letter dated 14th November 2016 on the above subject refers;
We write to inform you that Management has approved your request to import 100 MT of cocoa beans from Ecuador, as part of your operational requirements for a particular recipe for a customer.
The letter, signed by Deputy Chief Executive, James Kofi Kutsoati, went on to state official laid down conditions with regard to imports.
The immediate past Finance Minister, Seth Terkper in 2016, briefed Parliament on how Ghana imported the beans in 2014/2015 crop year.
