The Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, has accused Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, of instigating a cocoa smuggling syndicate aimed at undermining the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

The minister’s allegation follows the arrest of four suspects linked to the smuggling of cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire into Ghana.

Four arrested for smuggling over 100 bags of cocoa into Ghana

Speaking to the media in a video shared by Edhub on April 28, 2026, during an accountability tour across parts of the Bono Region, Addae Akwaboa said intelligence gathered during his visits pointed to a deliberate scheme involving some individuals misusing government funds meant for cocoa purchases.

“I visited several townships last week, including Dormaa Central, Dormaa West, and Dormaa East under my accountability tour initiative. During the visits, reports I received indicated that some individuals are deliberately using government funds meant for buying cocoa to smuggle cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire into Ghana to undermine the government,” he said.

He explained that the funds released to licensed buying companies to purchase cocoa from Ghanaian farmers were being diverted for cross-border transactions.

“The government has given funds to licensed buying companies to buy cocoa from Ghanaian cocoa farmers. However, what these people are doing is that they are instead using these funds to buy cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire because of their cheaper rates while pocketing the money,” he added.

The minister further alleged that recent visits by Annoh-Dompreh to cocoa-growing areas were part of a wider plan to encourage the illegal activity.

“The cocoa farm visitations by Annoh-Dompreh have been a ploy to instigate some buying companies to smuggle cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire with the government funds to make the government unpopular.

“When I picked that intelligence, I decided to act swiftly, informing the security officers and COCOBOD’s anti-smuggling team to take action,” he stated.

According to him, security agencies have since made arrests and seized cocoa being smuggled into the country.

“We have arrested and intercepted more than 100 bags of cocoa being smuggled into Ghana from Côte d’Ivoire. I am warning such people behind this scheme, especially Annoh-Dompreh, to be very careful. I won’t allow such schemes in Bono Region under my tenure as the minister,” he warned.

'We are coming after you' – Minister tells cocoa smugglers

He called for patriotism and urged individuals to put national interest above personal gain.

“Let us be nation builders and patriotic, and not try to destroy the country just because of personal gains. These people are parading themselves as wanting the best for cocoa farmers, but are rather nation wreckers. All the suspects we have arrested are NPP executives in Nkran Nkwanta,” he concluded.

The Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, has accused Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh of instigating a cocoa smuggling syndicate to undermine the NDC government, following the arrest of four suspects linked to smuggling cocoa from Côte d’Ivoire. pic.twitter.com/mrh2f6Aes0

— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) April 28, 2026