Ghana: Press focuses on COCOBOD CEO’s solution to cocoa smuggling others

APA – Accra (Ghana)
The report that the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Joseph Boahen Aidoo has stated that his outfit is committed to giving cocoa farmers the best prices possible as a solution to cocoa smuggling is one of the trending stories in the Ghanaian press on Wednesday.
The Graphic reports that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Joseph Boahen Aidoo, has stated that his outfit was committed to giving cocoa farmers the best prices possible as a solution to cocoa smuggling.
Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament on Tuesday to respond to some infractions contained in the Auditor-General’s Report for the year ending December 2022, Mr Aidoo said even though the board’s collaboration with national security agencies to fight the menace was yielding positive and far reaching results, favourable prices were the best move to help curtail the incidence in the long term.
He said good cocoa prices would help serve as a disincentive for farmers who engaged in smuggling Ghana’s cocoa to neighbouring countries.
“We have made a lot of arrests. We have arrested people smuggling cocoa in jerrycans among others. But that will not solve the problem. The solution is bringing a new price,” he stressed.
In 2023, Ghana reportedly lost about 150,000 metric tonnes of cocoa beans, which represented about $600 million in revenue in the last crop season, as a result of smuggling to neighboring Burkina Faso and Togo.
In September the same year, the government increased the price at which it buys a bag of cocoa from GH¢800 per 64 kilogrammes (kg) to GH¢1,308.
The 63.5 per cent increment translated to GH¢20,943 per tonne of raw cocoa beans, up from GH¢12,800 per tonne.
The newspaper says that the flag bearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, says the objective behind his proposed 24-hour economy initiative is to enable businesses to operate three shifts per day.
To achieve this goal, he says the government and private sector will collaborate.
“The 24-hour economy is designed to create new employment opportunities, particularly for young people, address unemployment, and enhance living standards in Ghana.”
In a social media post, the NDC flag bearer, said his government will enact new laws to support businesses operating a 24 hour system in seven days (24/7), including labour laws and tax incentives.
“To assist companies, there will be favourable tax policies, stimulus packages and financial assistance available for specific industries including agro-processing and manufacturing,” Mr Mahama posted.
The former President also said, “Buying local products and services will be government’s top priority, and measures will be implemented to ensure the smooth operation of the 24-hour economy.”
The Ghanaian Times reports that the newly sworn-in Head of Civil Service, Dr Evans Aggrey-Darko, has lobbied government to hasten the process leading to the review of the Civil Service Act enacted in 1993.
Dr Aggrey-Darko said some proposals have been sent to cabinet and was hoping for a swift response from the executive to meet the demands on the service.
He made the call when he was sworn-in by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the Head of Civil Service on Monday at the Jubilee House in Accra.
President Akufo-Addo urged Dr Evans Aggrey-Darko to work assid¬uously to position the Civil Service as a productive and resourceful state institution.
He said the Civil Service played a critical role in the administration of the state, however, it would take only a service that was productive, resourceful and had sympathetic considerations for government that could contribute to the welfare of the citizenry.
He said the Civil Service played a critical role in the administration of the state, however, it would take only a service that was productive, resourceful and had sympathetic considerations for government that could contribute to the welfare of the citizenry.
“You’re today the head of this institution and the responsibilities imposed on you is considerable, but your background in terms of your experience makes it clear you should be up to it and that is why the opportunity is given to you to serve your country in this exalted position,” he emphasised.
He encouraged the new head to manifest his independence of spirit, however it must be done in a way that built than destroy.
The newspaper says that the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has stated that the January 2024 Standing Orders of Parliament offers an opportunity to address the evolv¬ing needs of Ghana’s dynamic and hybrid parliamentary democracy.
According him, the processes and procedures in the House was challenged with time and practice, exposing the gaps and deficiencies in the November 2000 Standing Orders.
He further indicated that the present composition of the House had brought those gaps and defi¬ciencies into sharper focus even though those deficiencies surfaced as far back as early 2001.
The Speaker made this state¬ment in his opening address at the orientation workshop for Mem¬bers of Parliament and Procedural Staff on the new Standing Orders in Ho over the weekend.
“We must start aligning the conduct of business in the House with the evolving and changing trends and requirements of our Parliament. We need to know how to apply and cope with the January 2024 Standing Orders which has replaced the 2000 Orders.
These are some of the reasons we are here today. As we say in Africa, When the drummers alter their beats, the dancers must ad¬just their steps,” he added.
He stated that the attendant composition of the House had brought to the fore several challenges with the old Standing Orders which led to diverse in¬terpretations of some procedures and practices, constant and acerbic verbal one-upmanship on the floor of the House, increased ten¬sions, near fisticuffs, including the pronouncement of the Supreme Court regarding the November 2000 Standing Orders.
He advised members of parlia¬ment to approach their work with diligence and innovation, given the fact that Parliament was con¬fronted with an increasing level of public distrust, which must be tackled through their approach to work.
GIK/APA