‘You have mismanaged the cocoa sector, resign now’-Minority tells COCOBOD boss
The Minority caucus in Parliament has called for the immediate resignation of the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Joseph Boahen Aidoo.
The caucus is of the firm belief that Mr. Aidoo has mismanaged the cocoa sector worsening the plight of cocoa farmers.
They contend that he is no longer fit to occupy the position of CEO.
Speaking to journalists, the Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson said the cocoa sector has taken a nose dive despite an announcement of a 68 percent increase in the producer price.
“Clearly, something is amiss at COCOBOD because we are seeing the production of cocoa coming down to the lowest in the last fifteen years and we have also seen them recording massive losses since 2017. Last year, according to their own audit report, they declared a loss of GH¢2.4 billion in one year and so I don’t see why the CEO should be in office despite these happenings.”
The Minority has accused Aidoo of incompetence and corruption. They say he has failed to implement the necessary reforms to improve the cocoa sector.
The Minority has also accused the government of short-changing cocoa farmers by increasing the price of a bag of cocoa to GHC1,300.
According to them, cocoa farmers should have been given at least GHC2,500 per bag.
Former President John Mahama bemoaned the current increment in cocoa prices to GH¢1,308 producer price per bag of cocoa.
Mr. Mahama described it as a rip-off of hardworking cocoa farmers.
This followed President Akufo-Addo’s announcement at an event in Tepa on September 9 of the new cocoa price.
The President explained that cocoa prices had increased from GH¢7,600 per tonne in 2016 to GH¢12,800 per tonne in 2022, a substantial 68% increase.
In the same vein, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) joined the conversation lashing out at former President John Dramani Mahama for criticizing the government’s decision to increase the price of a bag of cocoa to GH₵1,300.
The Chief Executive Officer of COCCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo in a statement on September 12, noted that Mahama should be familiar with the process for determining the producer price of cocoa.
Mr Aidoo explained that in 2023/24, the crop was sold between October 2022 and March 2023 at international prices ranging from $2,200 to $2,400 per tonne.
“Since you have had the privilege of being in government before as the number one gentleman of the country, it is expected that you would be familiar with the process for determining the producer price of cocoa.
“I am, therefore, surprised that you chose, rather erroneously, to use the current international market price of cocoa at $3,600 per tonne as the basis for your calculation in your post on the recently announced producer,” the statement said.