Dr. Kofi Koduah Sarpong, a strong advocate for structural and policy reforms, has criticised the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) for straying from its primary mandate, arguing that the institution should not be involved in road construction.
Speaking on behalf of the Structural and Policy Reform Committee at the National Economic Dialogue, Dr. Sarpong addressed inefficiencies within state institutions, drawing comparisons between COCOBOD and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
He highlighted concerns over procurement practices and operational inefficiencies affecting both organizations.
Focusing on COCOBOD, he stressed that the institution should concentrate solely on cocoa trading rather than diverting resources into road projects.
“COCOBOD is also not focused on its core business and has inefficient procurement practices just like ECG. To the government, we suggest the following. We should have a holistic and coordinated plan to stop galamsey and improve cocoa and food production as well. This is a major issue for the government to deal with.
“COCOBOD should focus on its core business of buying and selling cocoa. In effect, it has no business in doing roads. We think that it must stop. The Department of Feeder Roads is there, and arrangements can be made for them to look at Cocoa Roads.
“In the past, when some of us were there, we were never constructing roads. We were only helping by giving funds to Feeder Roads to do the work,” he stated.
Dr. Sarpong’s remarks underscore ongoing concerns about inefficiencies in Ghana’s public institutions and the need for clearer policy direction to ensure COCOBOD remains dedicated to its core mandate.
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