The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has asked the public to disregard false interpretations given to a recent permit granted a local cocoa processing company to import cocoa beans from Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria. COCOBOD, in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, said it was 'an industry practice' to allow factories to import cocoa beans from other countries. COCOBOD in a letter dated January 25, 2024, approved a request by Afrotropic Cocoa Processing Company to import a total of 3,500 tonnes of cocoa beans from Cote d'Ivoire and Nigeria. It also asked Afrotropic Cocoa Processing Company to obtain all necessary authorisations from relevant State institutions before commencing the importation. Some stakeholders in the cocoa industry and others have raised issues about the approval, asking why the world's second largest cocoa-producing country be importing cocoa beans? COCOBOD, in its response, said: 'All processing companies in Ghana established post November 2001 are permitted by law to import cocoa be ans for processing in Ghana.' The practice, according to COCOBOD, was to 'help the companies meet their desired recipes for chocolate production and other uses. 'Ghana's cocoa is a premium cocoa, and as part of cost management and operational strategy, companies often blend premium Ghana cocoa with less premium cocoa beans from other producing countries. 'It is an industry practice that?has existed for over 20 years to allow factories to import from other countries, including Cote d'Ivoire, Togo, Nigeria, and Ecuador,' the statement said. COCOBOD, therefore, urged the public to ignore the 'widespread misinformation', especially on social media. Source: Ghana News Agency WINDHOEK: The late President Hage Geingob's temporary family spokesperson, local lawyer Sisa Namandje, has acknowledged the efforts of the medical team who attended to the president until his passing. Recognising the medical team of four doctors at the late president's residence in Windhoek on Sunday, Namandje said the family is exceptionally happy with what the medical team had been doing in the last weeks until Geingob's passing. Geingob, 82, passed away in Windhoek early Sunday morning due to complications from cancer. 'We are exceptionally happy with what you have been doing in the last two weeks… I saw you work hard yesterday, we saw you trying to do everything you could do in your power, ability, and expertise,' he said. Namandje noted that the medical team had been attending to the president until his recent trip to the United States of America, where he had undergone medical treatment. 'We will forever be indebted to you for the efforts you have been making. It has been a difficult period, you tr avelled with the president, had a few hours with your families and you tried everything. But with every medical condition, there are only two ways,' he noted. Geingob returned to Namibia on Wednesday after receiving specialised cancer treatment in the United States. Geingob last month informed the nation that cancerous cells were detected in his body by his medical team. The Presidency then on 24 January said Geingob travelled to the United States on invitation by leading scientists and medical professionals in Los Angeles to undergo novel therapy for cancerous cells. Namandje further noted that while the government prepares Geingob's State funeral arrangements, evening devotions will be held daily at 18h00 at the Geingob residence in Windhoek. Source: The Namibia Press Agency
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