‘Days of diverting cocoa inputs are over’ – COCOBOD CEO

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has declared an end to the era of diverting cocoa inputs, as the organization unveiled a new digital monitoring system aimed at curbing the illegal sale and smuggling of free fertiliser and other agricultural inputs. Speaking at the relaunch of the Free Fertiliser Distribution Programme in Sefwi Wiawso, Western North Region, COCOBOD's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Randy Abbey, warned that the days of smuggling cocoa inputs without detection were over, emphasizing that law enforcement would be swift and severe against any offenders.

Dr Abbey highlighted that the system would track every consignment from its departure from warehouses to the intended recipients, ensuring complete transparency in the distribution process. Farmers will now need to present their farmer identification card, Ghana Card, or biometric details at distribution centers to establish their eligibility.

Input quantities will be based on farm size and condition, with no room for alteration by distribution officers. This digital tracking mechanism is expected to eliminate loopholes that allowed subsidized and free agricultural inputs to enter the open market or be smuggled across borders. By linking each bag issued to its recipient, the system will allow officials to reconcile the dispatched and received quantities, eliminating instances of missing bags.

The move seeks to close loopholes that have previously allowed inputs to be diverted, hoarded, or resold, and ensures that smallholder farmers, women, young farmers, and elderly producers receive their allocations without resorting to unofficial fees.