The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is at the center of a major investigation after its acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Randy Abbey has revealed that about 200 containers belonging to the board cannot be located.
Dr. Abbey, speaking to Liberty FM in Sefwi, disclosed that the missing containers-reportedly filled with agrochemicals and jute sacks were expected to be at the port but are now unaccounted for.
“When I took office, I was informed that COCOBOD had about 200 containers at the port. However, upon checking, we could not find them,” he stated.
According to Dr. Abbey, records indicate that goods imported for the 2022, 2023, and 2024 seasons had not been cleared from the port.
He said “When we investigated the matter, we found that the goods said to have been imported for 2022 and 2023 had not been cleared at the port. Goods imported in 2023, 2024, and 2025 are also still at the port, accumulating demurrage and facing possible auction”.
“When we checked the whereabouts of the containers, although records indicated there were 200 containers, we could not find them”, Dr. Randy Abbey revealed.
He also indicated that the containers, which should have been in COCOBOD’s stores, are neither at the port nor in their warehouses.
“The so called 200 containers are not at COCOBOD stores. We are still trying to determine how many of these containers are available and what exactly is inside them.”
He disclosed that the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) has been notified and is currently investigating the disappearance.
“As a result, the National Investigation Bureau is currently investigating the matter”, he stressed.
Dr. Abbey lamented that the situation has led to significant repercussions.
He noted that Shipping lines have blacklisted COCOBOD and its suppliers due to the prolonged failure to clear goods and return containers.
Dr. Abbey emphasized “Shipping lines have blacklisted COCOBOD because their operational model requires that goods are stored in their containers at the port. Importers must clear the goods promptly for the containers to be returned. When COCOBOD failed to clear goods imported in 2022/23 and 2024, the shipping lines’ containers remained stranded at the port.
“Consequently, both COCOBOD and its suppliers have been blacklisted”, he stated.
The acting CEO stressed that what’s even more worrying about this matter is the fact that COCOBOD was importing the same goods repeatedly, but failing to clear them.
“What is particularly concerning is that goods imported for 2022 and 2023 were not cleared, yet the same items were imported again for 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 without being cleared. For example, the company supplying jute sacks has been blacklisted by shipping lines. They have petitioned us, attaching all relevant documents.”
Dr. Abbey noted that he had emergency talks with shipping line executives aimed at averting catastrophic supply chain collapses.
“When I assumed office, one of my first meetings was with shipping lines to address the issue, outline preventive measures, and urge them to continue working with our suppliers. This is critical because Ghana’s cocoa industry depends on uninterrupted access to agrochemicals, fertilizers, jute sacks, and other essentials.”
Dr. Abbey further revealed that, despite the backlog, contracts for the 2025/26 season were awarded by the previous administration, with $48 million escrowed at Ghana International Bank, London, to pay for future shipments.
“The jute sacks we imported two years ago still remain uncleared at the port, and this year’s imported sacks are also stuck there.
He added “We later discovered that before leaving office, the previous administration had already awarded contracts for the 2025/26 season’s sacks. They escrowed $48 million from our account at Ghana International Bank in London to pay for the 2025/26 sacks”.
Source: www.kumasimail.com /Kwadwo Owusu
