High Court orders the release of containers of cocoa

Tema, March 14, GNA - A High Court at Tema presided over by Ms Justice Barbara Ackah-Yensu, has ordered the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to release a container of cocoa to Exel Logistics for shipment.

The order given at the court's sitting on Friday followed an application filed on behalf of the company on March 9, by its National Operation Manager, Mr Ken Macdonald.

In the application, the company petitioned the court to order GPHA to release the cocoa to Exel for shipment, "subject to the payment by the application of the cedi equivalent to 6,825,000 CFA, and an undertaking to indemnify GPHA of any cost it may incur."

Last month, the Tema Regional Police Command impounded six containers and 279 bags of cocoa beans, which were on transit from Cote d'Ivoire for export to Amsterdam, Holland.

The Regional Police Commander, Mrs Agnes Sikanartey, pointed out that the Cocoa Marketing Company, (CMC) "is the only company which has the mandate to export cocoa out of the country."

Mrs Sikanartey said on February 19, this year, the Police had information that Exel Logistics Limited was about to export six containers of cocoa beans to Amsterdam, without authority.

The Regional Police Commander stated that during an inspection at the premises of Exel Logistics Limited, a total of 279 bags of cocoa beans were discovered in trucks, out of which 76 were bagged in sacks belonging to the Ghana COCOBOD, while the rest of the sacks had no identification.

As a result, the Regional Police Command handed over the consignment to officials of GPHA and CMC, pending investigations into the matter.