The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has rolled out a revised reward scheme that allocates one-third of the value of any seized cocoa to informants and anti-smuggling operatives, as part of renewed efforts to combat illicit cross-border trade.
The initiative aims to encourage greater public participation in the fight against cocoa smuggling, which continues to rob the nation of revenue and threaten the stability of Ghana’s cocoa sector.
By offering one-third of the assessed value of confiscated cocoa, COCOBOD hopes to incentivize citizens, especially those living along border communities and known trafficking routes, to provide timely information on smuggling operations.
This enhanced incentive is part of COCOBOD’s wider strategy to strengthen the cocoa industry, which remains a key driver of Ghana’s economy and a source of livelihood for millions of farmers.
Cocoa smuggling not only leads to major financial losses but also distorts market competition and deprives farmers, processors, and licensed buyers of fair returns.
As the world’s second-largest cocoa producer, Ghana is under growing pressure to protect its high-quality beans amid rising global demand and regional price differences.
The revised reward package represents a crucial step in safeguarding national resources, improving traceability, and upholding the integrity of Ghana’s cocoa value chain.