COCOBOD: Japan Has No Problem With Ghana’s Cocoa

Manager at the Office of the Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod), Fiifi Boafo says there is no problem between Ghana and Japan as far as the exportation of cocoa is concerned.

The Chronicle newspaper in its Wednesday, January 24, 2018 edition had indicated that the government of Japan has rejected Ghana’s cocoa of the overuse of chemicals in nurturing the crop.

According to the paper, cocoa from the West African country does not meet the Asian country’s standards and were quarantined due to their health implications.

“….the substandard cocoa beans were rejected by the Japanese authorities when it was detected that the Ghanaian product fell short of the Japanese Food Sanitation Law,” the Accra daily reported.

Fiifi Boafo said the issue has been resolved ‘a very long time ago and I am surprised The Chronicle is now bringing it out’.

He said per the Japanese Food Sanitation Law, 2, 4-D, a weedicide is not supposed to be used as far as cocoa production is concerned, however, few months back Japan detected such substance in the cocoa and reported it to Ghana.

“But this issue has been resolved and going forward they advised that before the cocoa is exported, we should ensure that the chemical 2, 4-D is not in it. It’s a ban product and we don’t even accept its usage. Since then they have been buying our cocoa. Ghana and Japan have no problem. There is no cause for alarm,” he added.

READ FULL PRESS STATEMENT

Our attention has been drawn to a publication in the 24th January, 2018 edition of the Chronicle newspaper headlined, ‘Japan rejects Ghana’s Cocoa’. The publication stated that Ghana’s cocoa beans sold to Japan did not meet the Japanese Food Sanitation Law following  the detection of 2, 4-D.

Management of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) wishes to clarify the issues raised as follows:

1. Since 2008, the Chocolate and Cocoa Association of Japan (CCAJ) agreed with Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to establish protocols for testing chemical residues on cocoa for shipment to that country.
2. The attention of COCOBOD was drawn to a 100-ton consignment to Japan in which 2, 4-D was detected in July, 2017.
3. 2, 4-D which is a herbicide was not part of the critical chemicals being tested for, for Japanese Shipment prior to the June, 2017 encounter.
4. Following that alert from CCAJ on the detection of 2, 4-D, the Quality Control Company, a Subsidiary of COCOBOD working with experts from CCAJ agreed on testing protocols for the 2,4-D which later became part of the total testing processes before cocoa is shipped to Japan.
5. Subsequently, Ghana and Japan have continued to do business to the mutual benefits of both countries. Japan has since received over 42,000mt of cocoa from Ghana without any issue in respect of a breach of any of the testing protocols.
6. The consignment in question was not returned to Ghana. It was not rejected as being alleged by the Chronicle newspaper.
7. COCOBOD would like to make it clear that it does not and has not given out or subscribed to the use of herbicides by cocoa farmers as a means of weeds control.

ACTION:

8. Staff of the Cocoa Health & Extension Division (CHED) and Quality Control Company (QCC) have intensified farmer-education on the appropriate use of weedicides/herbicides on cocoa farms (thus, if farmers wish to control weeds by that means).
9. The Chief Executive at various field interactions with cocoa farmers has repeatedly cautioned cocoa farmers against the use of unapproved chemicals in cocoa farming.
10. Indeed, he has also continuously encouraged cocoa farmers to desist from using herbicides for the control of weeds, particularly on mature cocoa farms.

CONCLUSION

We wish to entreat our cherished cocoa farmers to abide by the rich extension services being offered by staff of CHED and QCC and also remain calm since there is no cause for alarm. COCOBOD will continue to ensure that it maintains the niche it has carved for itself over the past 70 years as the producer of best quality cocoa beans the world over.