Ghana pilots cocoa traceability system as EU’s deforestation ban looms

Ghana is intensifying efforts to meet the requirements of a new European Union (EU) law set to take effect on 1 January which bans the import of commodities linked to deforestation.

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has piloted a comprehensive cocoa traceability system that tracks cocoa beans from farms to port, ensuring compliance with the upcoming EU deforestation regulation.

This new law requires importers of to prove that their supply chains do not contribute to deforestation globally. Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 4% of turnover for EU importers.

COCOBOD CEO Joseph Boahen Aidoo confirmed that the traceability system is fully operational, and the EU has already inspected and expressed satisfaction with the setup.

“We have established the cocoa traceability system, which allows us to trace the cocoa to the source where it is produced. The EU has come and worked with us on the field, and they are satisfied, so we’ve prepared ourselves for it,” Aidoo said.

Michael Amoah, another COCOBOD official, shared more details during a webinar organized by environmental non-profits Fern and Mighty Earth, highlighting that Ghana has successfully polygon-mapped all cocoa-growing areas in the country.

“We have polygon-mapped all the cocoa in Ghana, established an end-to-end traceability system, and successfully piloted it,” he confirmed.

The EU’s deforestation law, which comes into effect at the end of December 2024, requires importers of coffee, cocoa, soy, palm, timber, beef, and rubber to prove that their supply chains do not contribute to deforestation globally.

Failure to comply could result in fines of up to 4% of turnover for EU importers. With about 60% of Ghana’s cocoa exports heading to the EU, and the cocoa industry employing 17% of the country’s workforce, Ghana’s compliance with this regulation is critical.

Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi

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