Manager at the Office of the Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod), Fiifi Boafo says there is no problem between Ghana and Japan as far as the exportation of cocoa is concerned.
The Chronicle newspaper in its Wednesday, January 24, 2018 edition had indicated that the government of Japan has rejected Ghana’s cocoa of the overuse of chemicals in nurturing the crop.
According to the paper, cocoa from the West African country does not meet the Asian country's standards and were quarantined due to their health implications.
“....the substandard cocoa beans were rejected by the Japanese authorities when it was detected that the Ghanaian product fell short of the Japanese Food Sanitation Law," the Accra daily reported.
However, clarifying the issue during an interview on Peace FM morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, Fiifi Boafo said the issue has been resolved ‘a very long time ago and I am surprised The Chronicle is now bringing it out’.
He said per the Japanese Food Sanitation Law, 2, 4-D, a weedicide is not supposed to be used as far as cocoa production is concerned, however, few months back Japan detected such substance in the cocoa and reported it to Ghana.
“But this issue has been resolved and going forward they advised that before the cocoa is exported, we should ensure that the chemical 2, 4-D is not in it. It’s a ban product and we don’t even accept its usage. Since then they have been buying our cocoa. Ghana and Japan have no problem. There is no cause for alarm,” he added.
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