Ghana faces potential sanctions from the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) following a scandal involving a renowned Swiss chocolatier, which threatens the country’s vital cocoa sector.
Reports have revealed that the luxurious chocolate of the Swiss chocolatier Lindt contains harmful heavy metals, including lead and cadmium. The discovery prompted a class-action lawsuit as consumers questioned the veracity of Lindt’s claims of “expertly crafted” chocolate made with “finest ingredients.”
This scandal directly links Ghana’s cocoa sector as Lindt sources a significant portion of its cocoa beans from the country. Given the connection between the Swiss chocolatier and Ghana, Lindt launched its Farming Programme in 2008, aimed at enhancing traceability and sustainability in its cocoa supply chain.
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With Lindt suffering a huge blow from the scandal, experts are saying that it is unlikely that Ghana, the major source of the company’s cocoa might be left off the hook.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana, Anthony Morrison fears the country may attract sanctions from the European Union (EU) which he says has very stringent food safety laws and policies.
Speaking exclusively to THSJ and sighted by The Ghana Times, Mr. Morrison further revealed that there is also the possibility of sanctions from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).
“The European Union has been far ahead when it comes to food safety. Cocoa is a food. Even though it comes first as a fruit its derivatives become food,” the CEO explained.
“The European Union has a new law called Food of Forest Origin and it’s coming in force next year, fully in force. So Ghana’s cocoa on the global market can be impacted heavily. We can also attract sanctions. We are not exempted or because we are the second largest producer, we are not exempted if our cocoa beans are affected,” he indicated.
According to the Chamber of Agribusiness Ghana’s boss, the country could suffer a total or partial sanction if these world food safety organizations are magnanimous with Ghana.
Mr. Morrison explained that “World Health Organization could say that two or three large multinational companies have been sanctioned. They will then go into it and say, okay, we can’t state for a fact which of Ghana’s cocoa is either safe or not. So, for that matter, the whole of Ghana’s cocoa will be sanctioned and we cannot export to European Union countries.”
He added that “another option is that this will be applicable to the areas where galamsey is taking place. So, the World Food Organization or the World Health Organization or Food and Agriculture Organization will say that, okay, we want to be mindful and protect lives.
“So, areas where commodities that are not affected by the metallic object, will allow those to enter into the EU market.”
The impact of such a sanction from these food safety organizations, Mr. Morrison says could be very dire. The economic and social impact of such a ban on Ghana, he says could negatively affect the lives and livelihoods of the many Ghanaians who depend on the cocoa sector.
“When that happens, over 1 million Ghanaians would be in a very terrible condition,” Anthony Morrison emphasized.
He is therefore calling for drastic measures from the authorities to deal with the galamsey menace to avert such a sanction which could have social and economic repercussions on the general economy.
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