A Ghanaian civil society group has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to remove Dr. Ransford Annetey Abbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), citing alleged mismanagement and poor leadership at the state agency.
The petition, dated 9 February and sent through the Chief of Staff to the Office of the President, was submitted by the Good Governance Advocacy Group Ghana (GGAGG) on behalf of “aggrieved cocoa farmers across the length and breadth of the country,” the group’s Executive Director said.
Details
The letter accused Abbey’s management of “poor leadership choices; incompetence, arrogance, intimidation tactics, misaligned and or misplaced priorities, financial mismanagement, questionable renovations, resistance to change, undermining initiatives, and blocking operational improvements.”
It did not provide supporting evidence for these allegations.
The petition praised Mahama’s overall leadership and economic stewardship, contrasting it with the agency’s management under Abbey.
COCOBOD is responsible for regulating, purchasing, and exporting cocoa in Ghana, the world’s second-largest producer, and provides livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of farmers.
Cabinet meeting
The call for Abbey’s removal comes as the cocoa sector faces a financing crisis. President Mahama has scheduled an emergency cabinet meeting for Wednesday (11 February), to address liquidity shortfalls that have delayed payments to farmers and licensed buying companies, raising concerns about supply chain disruptions and declining producer confidence.
The Licensed Cocoa Buyers Association of Ghana has warned that without emergency funding to purchase an estimated 300,000 tonnes of cocoa beans, the procurement system could collapse.
Among measures under consideration is abandoning the syndicated loan model that has funded cocoa purchases since 1992.
Farmers angry
Farmers have also expressed dissatisfaction with producer prices for the new crop season, arguing that current rates do not reflect rising production costs and may encourage cross-border smuggling.
There was no immediate response from COCOBOD or the presidency regarding the petition.
Officials said the upcoming cabinet session will explore short-term financing solutions, ensure timely payments to farmers and buyers, and implement reforms to stabilise the sector.
Cocoa remains a cornerstone of Ghana’s economy, contributing significant foreign exchange and supporting rural livelihoods nationwide.
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