Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod) says it is illegal for any Licence Buying Company (LBC) or their representative to purchase cocoa beans with weighing scales which are different from what has been certified by the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).

A statement issued and signed by the Corporate Affairs Director of Cocobod, Mr. Noah Amanyah, said any adjustment of weighing scales by purchasing clerks and their accomplices negatively affects the country’s cocoa farmers and their standard of living.

“All Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut farmers who suspect any manipulation of scales used by purchasing clerks in their localities must immediately report the cheating clerks to officials of Cocobod or the police for investigation.

“Officials of Cocobod, Bureau of National Investigation and the National Security will be on the field to check and arrest purchasing clerks who do not heed this caution for prosecution. Cocobod will continue to monitor the activities of LBCs to ensure sanity in the cocoa industry,” it mentioned.

The Board added that it has supported the Ghana Cocoa, Coffee and Sheanut Farmers Association to purchase weighing scales and test-stones to monitor activities of purchasing clerks.

“These scales and test-stones have been distributed to the cocoa communities. We urge our cherished farmers to use them to help curb the menace.

“Cocobod has the welfare of every farmer at heart, and will therefore not condone any form of cheating in the industry.”