The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Randy Abbey, has strongly condemned the widespread manipulation of cocoa weighing scales by some Purchasing Clerks (PCs), describing the practice as outright theft against hardworking cocoa farmers.
According to Dr. Abbey, investigations and complaints indicate that some PCs deliberately adjust weighing scales by more than 10 kilogrammes in order to shortchange farmers during the purchase of cocoa beans. He stressed that such acts are unacceptable and must cease immediately, warning that COCOBOD will not tolerate any conduct that undermines farmers’ livelihoods.
Dr. Abbey made these remarks following a formal complaint presented to him by the Ghana Best Cocoa Farmers Association, led by its President, Mr. Charles Gyamfi, during a meeting at the COCOBOD Head Office in Accra.
The engagement brought together the leadership of COCOBOD, representatives of the Cocoa–Coffee–Shea Nut Association, and the 2025 National Best Cocoa Award winners.
Responding to concerns about responsibility for the inspection and certification of cocoa weighing scales, Dr. Abbey clarified that the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) remains the sole legally mandated institution responsible for inspecting and certifying all weighing scales used in cocoa purchases across the country.
To address the growing problem, Dr. Abbey assured farmers that COCOBOD will intensify collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority to conduct regular audits and inspections of weighing scales at cocoa buying centres nationwide.
He noted that this enhanced oversight will help eliminate dishonest practices, restore fairness in cocoa transactions, and protect farmers from exploitation.
The COCOBOD CEO reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of cocoa farmers, emphasizing that transparency, fairness, and integrity in cocoa purchasing are critical to sustaining Ghana’s cocoa industry and maintaining the trust of farmers who form the backbone of the sector.
Story by: George Osei-Akoto Addae (Teacher Kojo) #ahotoronline.com/oseiakotor1@gmail.com