CEPS calls for logistics to fight cocoa smuggling
in Volta Region
Honuta (V/R), Sept 29, Ghanadot/GNA
- Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) at Honuta in
the Ho West Constituency on Tuesday appealed to the
government to provide the service with logistics that would
help them combat cocoa smuggling in the region.
They suggested to government to consider increasing the
price of cocoa in order to discourage people from smuggling
the product.
Mr Christopher Asiedu, a Collector of CEPS, told journalists
that lack of personnel, Wellington boots, raincoats and
other important logistics was impeding their patrol duties
in the area since the smugglers were even more equipped than
them.
He said over 100 bags of cocoa were abandoned by smugglers
during a chase and added “If we have more men and the
logistics we shall be able to match them boot by boot and
stop them from their unpatriotic activities”.
Mr. Asiedu said the current staff of 26 was inadequate to
combat smuggling and other crimes in the area and appealed
to the management of CEPS to consider increasing their
number to 50 and support them logistically.
He said cocoa price in the country was not attractive to
farmers thereby encouraging them to smuggle to neighbouring
Togo for better prices.
“I believe that if the government is able to peg the price
of cocoa at par with that in Togo, nobody will be willing to
smuggle when they can get the same price for their produce
in the country”.
GNA
