The Central Regional Police Command has intercepted a Toyota Coaster Bus loaded with 30 bags of cocoa beans suspected of being smuggled.
The discovery was made on Monday, July 21, 2025, at around 4:20 p.m., when officers at the Brimso Police checkpoint stopped a bus with registration number GR 8247-20.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Kofi Adu, the Regional Commander, said that the driver, 42-year-old Bernard Owusu Agyemang, could not provide any documentation for the cargo.
He claimed he had been instructed by an individual identified only as Martin to deliver the beans to an unnamed woman in Mankessim. The only contact provided was a phone number.
DCOP Adu stated that investigations are ongoing to uncover and dismantle the smuggling network behind the operation.
He emphasized that those found culpable will face the full rigours of the law, adding that the police will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion to serve as a deterrent to others involved in illegal cocoa trading.
He called on the public to share timely information to aid in the arrest of cocoa smugglers and assured that the identities of whistleblowers would be protected.
The seized cocoa beans have since been handed over to the Cape Coast office of COCOBOD for quality inspection and further action. Mr. Maxwell Ntiamoah, Principal Quality Control Officer at the office, received the consignment.
Cocoa smuggling is emerging as a dangerous undercurrent threatening Ghana’s cocoa sector and broader economic stability.
However, cocoa is Ghana’s most important cash crop, accounting for a significant portion of foreign exchange earnings and supporting the livelihoods of millions of farmers.
However, persistent incidents of smuggling, especially across porous borders into neighbouring countries offering higher prices undermine the state’s ability to track production, enforce quality standards, and generate export revenue.
It also affects Ghana’s international reputation as a top exporter of quality-assured cocoa. If unchecked, these illegal activities could result in Ghana missing production targets and revenue projections, weakening the country’s economic recovery effort.
To prevent cocoa smuggling effectively, Ghana must strengthen border controls, incentivising farmers with better farm-gate prices, digitalising cocoa tracking systems, and intensifying public awareness campaigns.
