Akufo-Addo appointees must be ‘whipped’ over cocoa crisis – Adongo

The Majority in Parliament has claimed that appointees of the previous Akufo-Addo administration deserve severe punishment for their alleged mismanagement of the cocoa sector.

The comments come amid ongoing challenges in the industry, prompting the government of President John Dramani Mahama to introduce reforms aimed at stabilising cocoa production.

Addressing journalists on Thursday, February 19, Chairman of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Isaac Adongo, accused officials under the previous administration of failing to properly manage critical logistics at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).

According to him, COCOBOD had 286,000 bales of jute sacks at the ports but cleared only 91,000, leaving the remainder uncleared.

He further alleged that, just days before leaving office, the outgoing administration contracted a supplier and paid GH¢48 million to procure an additional 80,000 bales of jute sacks.

Mr. Adongo described the actions as reckless, saying the mismanagement deprived the state of resources needed to adequately support cocoa farmers. He argued that the conduct of the former appointees contributed to the current difficulties facing the cocoa sector, insisting that accountability was necessary.

“When COCOBOD had 286,000 bales of jute sacks at the ports. They cleared only 91,000 and left the rest at the ports. Just a few days before they were leaving office, they contracted someone and paid GHC48 million to bring in 80,000 bales of jute sacks. These are reckless people.

“If it were possible in the days that we were whipping people, these are the people we have to line up and tell cocoa farmers that it is the conduct of these people that denied the government of Ghana the resources to properly take care of you at this point in time.

“So that we will give everybody a cane, and cocoa farmers will whip them. Then we will know who is at fault. But these are the type of people who can sing and dance better than everybody. They think that if you tell the lie many times, it becomes the truth,” he said.