The Volta Regional Minister Madam Helen Adjoa Ntoso says her outfit under the auspices of the Volta Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has established a taskforce aimed at tackling the smuggling of petroleum products and cocoa to neighbouring Togo.

She said, members of the taskforce would include representatives from the security agencies and other relevant stakeholders who will be tasked with the responsibility of embarking on massive public education within the communities where these activities take place and arrest the culprits who engage in such crimes.

Madam Ntoso was speaking in an interview with Myjoyonline.com on Friday 25 July 2014, in Accra.

She attributed the increase in smuggling activities to the high cost of petrol and cocoa in the Republic of Togo as compared to Ghana.

She however could not readily provide the price difference between the two countries.

The Regional Minister indicated that smuggling activities are rife in the border communities of the Volta Region.

She mentioned Tinjani, Nkwanta South, Breweniase and Kadjebi. Other areas include parts of Hohoe, Ho, Kpedze, Adaklu and Dzodze as some of the communities that the taskforce will focus its operations.

According to her, they recently arrested 13 bags of Cocoa at Senchi near the ferry landing while another 140 bags were confiscated at Hodzo Alavanyo. Efforts towards curtailing the smuggling of petrol led to the confiscation of 1,675 litres of petrol.

Madam Ntoso said such crimes “benefit few individuals at expense of the state which needs such revenues for development”.

She however urged residents to volunteer information to the revenue authorities and the police as part of their contribution to fighting the phenomenon.