The management of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has been exposed for hastily disbursing US$13m fertilizer payment in 24 hours.
According to reports, COCOBOD hastily disbursed the US$13 million following the appointment of a new procurement manager which has raised concerns.
The newly appointed Director of Procurement, Stephen Badu, who assumed office immediately authorized a US$13,125,000 payment to Awo Henewah Limited which has shocked many within COCOBOD.
The move by the newly appointed Director of Procurement has been compared to accusations leveled at the former COCOBOD CEO, Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni, and businessman, Seidu Agongo, Dr. Opuni has been on trial for 8 years after being investigated by Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and the Ghana Police Service.
Many have suggested that COCOBOD has now committed even more breaches, according to the information gathered the managers of COCOBOD have committed multiple procurement breaches by bypassing the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).
Those fingered in the controversial US $13,125,000 payment are Joseph Boahen Aidoo the COCOBOD’s Chief Executive, Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Finance & Administration, E. Ray Ankrah; and Director of Finance, Peter Osei-Amoako.
The current COCOBOD management has also been accused of promoting supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) within the institution above more qualified staff a move to entrench partisanship within the organization.
Meanwhile, John Mahama’s Transition Team in a statement signed by the spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has warned State Institutions of last-minute undertaking as a new government will be sworn in just a few weeks.
Part of their statement reads, “The Transition Team of the President-elect wishes to state emphatically that given the bad faith displayed by the government, all these payments, recruitments, transfers, and promotions, some of which have been backdated, will be reversed and, where necessary, public officials responsible for them held to strict account when a formal transfer of power takes place”.
