The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) says a recent report by an international media firm, Al Jazeera is bound to have a dire impact on the cocoa industry.

Al Jazeera in its report on child labour on cocoa farms in the Western Region stated that the use of child labour has risen in cocoa farms in Ghana during the past decade despite assurances to curtail the situation.

Speaking at the Public Accounts Committee meeting, the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo insisted that the report was staged-managed to tarnish the image of Ghana’s cocoa sector.

“The report apart from the collateral damage has its own wider ramifications in terms of prices. I want to believe that, the entire public should take note this is not the first time this is happening.”

Al Jazeera, in its report, stated that the use of child labour, has risen in cocoa farms in Ghana during the past decade despite industry promises to reduce it.

According to the report, the prevalence of children doing hazardous work, including using sharp tools, has also gone up in the world’s top two cocoa producers, according to a study funded by the United States government.

But COCOBOD insists that the whole report was calculated to undermine the Ghanaian cocoa industry.