The Ghana Police Service has clarified its position regarding allegations of facilitating smuggling activities after a recent incident at the Missiga security checkpoint in Bawku, Upper East Region.
The situation unfolded on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, when a consignment of cocoa bags suspected to be smuggled was intercepted by security personnel.
Tensions arose among members of the Ghana Armed Forces, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, and the Ghana Police Service over the handling of the intercepted truck. Initial reports suggested confusion and disagreement among the agencies regarding their respective roles in addressing the situation.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the police noted that “We wish to state that the Ghana Police Service yesterday, 9th October 2024, intercepted the smuggled consignment based on intelligence and were in the process of escorting the truck to the Bawku Divisional Police Command for the consignment to be handed over to COCOBOD and the culprits investigated and prosecuted by the Police in line with established protocol with Ghana COCOBOD.”
“For the record, the Police recently intercepted smuggled cocoa beans on two occasions within the region, and the intercepted consignments were handed over to COCOBOD, while the suspects are currently being prosecuted by the Police. It is, therefore, untrue that the Police were in any way facilitating the smuggled consignments, as being claimed.”
It said that in the aftermath of the incident, the leadership of the three state security institutions promptly intervened to resolve the matter at the national level to maintain harmony and restore cooperation among the agencies involved.
“Meanwhile, the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) under the chairmanship of the Upper East Regional Minister, is also meeting the personnel and their leaders at the regional level to complement the efforts made at the national level,” it added
