OLD TAFO MP PETITIONS SPECIAL PROSECUTOR,CHRAJ OVER COCOBOD DEPUTY CEO.

OLD TAFO MP PETITIONS SPECIAL PROSECUTOR,CHRAJ OVER COCOBOD DEPUTY CEO- Princess Adoma Danquah.

Member of Parliament for Old Tafo Ekow Vincent Assafuah speaking to the media in parliament has revealed that his office has formally petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice to investigate serious allegations involving Mr. Ato Boateng, Acting Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Finance and Administration at COCOBOD.

The Old Tafo legislator further disclosed that public records show that Mr. Ato Boateng previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Commodities Limited in 2018. And today, he occupies one of the most powerful financial and administrative offices within COCOBOD, the institution mandated under law to regulate cocoa buying companies.

Also Under the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, COCOBOD is a regulator. It is not a competitor. The regulator cannot be the referee and at the same time a player within the same market structure it supervises. His reason for the petition is also based on Article 284 of the Constitution which clearly prohibits a public officer from placing himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts or is likely to conflict with his official duties.

He further revealed reports indicate that a PBC regional manager officially lodged a complaint at the Kadjebi Police Station concerning alleged irregular operations involving Atlas Commodities Limited. It is further reported that this complaint led to the interception of trucks and cocoa believed to be linked to Atlas Commodities.

Additionally, reports received indicate that National Security has intercepted four trucks at the Tema Port carrying cocoa reportedly connected to these operations and allegedly transported through structures associated with state operational systems. These developments elevate the seriousness of the matter.

Hon. Asaafuah again told journalists in parliament that there are also troubling reports that some PBC workers, reportedly unpaid for extended periods, may have been used in support of these operations. If established, these circumstances would raise serious concerns of regulatory compromise, abuse of office, and potential financial loss to the state.

The Minority represented by the Old Tafo legislator criticized that at a time when COCOBOD is reportedly struggling to meet financial obligations to cocoa farmers, the perception that private commercial activities may be thriving within the regulated space under questionable circumstances is deeply troubling. Cocoa farmers are sacrificing daily to sustain the economy. Regulatory leadership must not create even the appearance of benefiting from the same system they supervise.

The minority in parliament are calling for a full criminal investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, a constitutional conflict of interest determination by CHRAJ, a forensic audit of warehouse registrations and cocoa movement records, full disclosure from COCOBOD, National Security and relevant authorities, action in accordance with the law if wrongdoing is established. Therefore if there is no wrongdoing, investigation will clear the air. But if wrongdoing is confirmed, accountability must follow.

Cocoa is too important to Ghana’s rural economy to allow regulatory compromise. The farmers deserve protection. The nation deserves transparency. The Constitution demands compliance.

They the minority will pursue this matter until the truth is fully established.