An Accra High Court presided over by Justice Mary Ekue Yanzuh sentenced three individuals to 25 years in prison for their involvement in a syndicate that smuggled cocoa beans out of Ghana. The Graphic Online report identified the convicts as Kofi Adjei and Kwadwo Appiah and Kwabena Antwi who were found guilty of multiple counts related to economic sabotage and the illegal exportation of cocoa.
Court proceedings revealed that the group operated along several border towns where they bypassed the official Ghana Cocoa Board supply chain. A Ghana Police Service statement noted that the syndicate used various trucks and hidden compartments to transport the produce into neighboring countries to seek higher prices. The prosecution presented evidence showing the group had transported dozens of bags of cocoa without the mandatory permits required by law.
A report by GhanaWeb confirmed that the sentencing occurred after the court found the evidence provided by the Office of the Attorney General to be sufficient. The State Prosecutor argued that the activities of the group caused significant financial loss to the state and undermined the regulated market. The three convicts initially pleaded not guilty but were later convicted based on witness testimonies and forensic evidence collected during investigations.
The Ghana Cocoa Board praised the ruling in a public statement released shortly after the sentence was announced. The board emphasized that smuggling remains a major challenge to the industry and cautioned the public against engaging in such activities. The convicted individuals have been transported to the Nsawam Medium Security Prison to begin their sentences according to Joy Online coverage of the judicial outcome.