Adoa News Adoa News
Related Articles
The government has directed the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the finances and operations of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) over the past eight years.
The directive was announced on Thursday, February 12, by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson during a press briefing outlining measures to stabilise the cocoa sector amid mounting challenges.
According to Dr. Forson, Cabinet approved the move as part of broader efforts to restore transparency, accountability, and financial discipline within the cocoa sector.
“To ensure accountability and transparency in the management of COCOBOD and the cocoa sector as a whole, Cabinet also directed the Attorney General to commission concurrent forensic and criminal investigations into the activities of COCOBOD over the last eight years,” he stated.
The announcement follows an emergency meeting convened by President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday, February 11, to address growing concerns about the sector’s financial health and operational challenges.
The government indicated that the investigations will run concurrently with sweeping structural reforms aimed at restoring COCOBOD’s financial stability and safeguarding the livelihoods of cocoa farmers across the country.
Ghana’s cocoa industry has recently faced significant turbulence, particularly over delays in payments to farmers, raising anxiety among stakeholders and triggering debate about governance and sustainability in the sector.
Officials say the probe is expected to identify lapses, recommend corrective measures, and help reposition the industry to maintain Ghana’s standing as one of the world’s leading cocoa producers.
