Document #1267938
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
The loss of revenue due to the illegal
transfer of cocoa to Côte d'Ivoire became a major problem in
Ghana during the 1970's. [ The Europa Yearbook 1987: A World
Survey, vol. 1, (London: Europa Publ., 1987), p. 1210.] In
order to curb the smuggling of cocoa to neighbouring countries, the
Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) resorted to several
measures, including tightening border security and increasing the
severity of penalties imposed for those convicted of crimes
amounting to economic sabotage. [Donald I. Ray, Ghana: Politics,
Economics, and Society, (London: Francis Printers, 1986), p.
60. See p. 122 also.] Smuggling of cocoa out of Ghana is considered
economic sabotage and any case arising from such a charge would be
prosecuted through the system of Public Tribunals (see pp. 15 - 17
in the Ghana Overview published by the IRBDC). Persons convicted of
economic sabotage have in some instances been sentenced to death, [
Amnesty Internaitonal, Ghana: Death Sentence for Economic
Sabotage, London: 8 January 1988.] although the most common
punishment for economic crimes is long jail sentences. [ Ray, p.
122.]
The Europa Yearbook 1987: A World
Survey. Vol. 1. London: Europa Publications, 1987.
George Thomas Kurian, ed.
Encyclopedia of the Third World. Vol. 1. New York: Facts on
File, Publications, 1987.
Donald I. Ray, Ghana: Politics,
Economics and Society. London: Francis Printers, 1986.
Amnesty International, Ghana: Death
Sentence for Economic Sabotage. London: 8 January 1988.
Peter Chilson. "Defining the Border."
West Africa. London: 15 August 1988.
Endnotes