A concerned citizen, Alfred Boamah, has made an urgent appeal to President John Dramani Mahama, urging him to reconsider the rumored appointment of Ghanaian broadcast journalist, Dr. Randy Abbey, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
Mr. Boamah expressed deep concerns over the suitability of Dr. Abbey for this critical role, arguing that the position requires specific expertise in finance and the cocoa industry to address the significant challenges facing COCOBOD.
He pointed out that COCOBOD, a vital institution in Ghana’s agricultural sector, is currently grappling with severe financial difficulties.
Under the leadership of the outgoing CEO, Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, COCOBOD reportedly close to defaulting on syndicated loans and struggled to meet supply targets, despite the global cocoa price rising to nearly $12,000 per ton. These setbacks have left farmers disillusioned and eroded confidence in the institution.
“Dr. Abbey does not possess the core competence or knowledge of the cocoa industry, nor does he have a financial background to implement the financial restructuring COCOBOD desperately needs,” – Mr. Boamah stated.
He further emphasized that while Dr. Abbey recently assumed the role of Chairman for the Black Stars Management Committee, managing the cocoa sector requires a drastically different skill set.
Mr. Boamah also reminded the President of past missteps, such as appointing professionals with unrelated backgrounds to lead COCOBOD, which he claims led to operational inefficiencies.
He called on the President to prioritize the appointment of a candidate with significant industry experience and a proven track record in financial management.
The concerned citizen concluded by reiterating his hope for COCOBOD’s revival, stating: “We all want the cocoa sector and its farmers to thrive. It’s essential that the next CEO brings both industry expertise and financial acumen to the table. The livelihoods of thousands of farmers and the future of this vital sector depend on it.”
Source: Bernard K Dadzie
