The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Joseph Boahen Aidoo, revealed to Parliament's Public Accounts Committee that the company experienced a significant loss of over 150,000 metric tonnes of cocoa beans due to smuggling in 2023. This disclosure came during his appearance before the committee on Tuesday morning.
CEO Joseph Boahen Aidoo highlighted that cocoa production has also been affected by illegal mining activities (galamsey) and disease attacks. He emphasized that COCOBOD is actively collaborating with national security, other stakeholders, and implementing farm rehabilitation programs to address these challenges.
In response to the presented challenges, minority members of the Public Accounts Committee called for the immediate resignation of COCOBOD CEO Joseph Boahen Aidoo. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, expressed doubts about the effectiveness of officials, including President Akufo-Addo and the COCOBOD CEO, in handling the situation.
Muhammed raised concerns about the decline in the quality of cocoa produced by Ghana, stating that the country was once a leader in cocoa quality. He questioned why the nation is no longer producing the highest quality of cocoa and expressed disagreement with attributing the decline to galamsey.
Muhammed criticized the COCOBOD CEO, stating that blaming others for the problems was not a solution. He argued that if a chief executive admits failure and doesn't present viable solutions, they are unfit for office. The minority members emphasized the need for responsible leadership in addressing the challenges faced by COCOBOD.