The appointment of Dr. Randy Abbey as Chief Executive Officer (CEO)of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is being challenged by some concerned members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) within COCOBOD.
A statement issued on Sunday, January 19, 2025, said the appointment of Dr. Randy Abbey as CEO of COCOBOD is not viable—this is the unanimous sentiment of concerned NDC workers.
The group raised concerns about Dr Abbey’s leadership abilities, citing his failure to effectively manage the Kpando-based football club, Heart of Lions, during his tenure as President. They argue that he lacks the expertise required to oversee a complex sector like COCOBOD, which demands a leader with extensive experience in the industry.
According to the group, the mismanagement and corruption that have plagued the sector over the past eight years cannot be addressed by someone they describe as a “newcomer” with limited understanding of the cocoa industry’s fundamentals.
The NDC workers believe that the former CEO in President Mahama’s first tenure had three deputies, all of whom are qualified, or any other person in the Party who has worked with COCOBOD and possesses the experience to hit the ground running from day one.
Below is the complete statement from the group:
In a related development, a concerned citizen, Alfred Boamah, has joined the opposers of Dr Abbey joining the COCOBOD as CEO.
He is expressing serious reservations about Dr. Abbey’s suitability for the role of COCOBOD CEO, emphasizing the need for expertise in both finance and the cocoa industry to address the institution’s financial struggles.
He highlighted COCOBOD’s recent challenges, including near-default on syndicated loans, failure to meet supply targets despite rising global cocoa prices, and growing farmer disillusionment under the outgoing CEO, Joseph Boahen Aidoo.
Mr. Boamah argued that Dr Abbey lacks the necessary industry knowledge and financial background to lead COCOBOD’s restructuring and drew attention to past missteps of appointing leaders with unrelated expertise. He urged the President to prioritize candidates with significant experience in the cocoa sector and financial management to ensure COCOBOD’s revival.
He emphasized the paramount importance of appointing a competent leader to ensure the well-being of cocoa farmers and safeguard the long-term prosperity of Ghana’s crucial cocoa sector.
Story: Janet Ayethe
