The Deputy Director of Communications for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Godwin Ako Gunn has accused the ruling New Patriotic Party administration of mismanaging the affairs of Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod).
Mr Ako Gunn in a scathing statement painted a picture of systemic failures and persecution of experts critical to Cocobod’s success under the current government led by President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
His statement was laden with detailed allegations, highlighting a series of purported wrongdoings, including extravagant spending, ineffective policies, and the forced exit of competent personnel.
At the forefront of Mr Gunn’s accusations is the controversial procurement of high-end keyboards for board members’ iPads of the Ghana Cocoa Board with each costing a staggering 4,500 cedis.
The National Democratic Congress Deputy Communications Officer likened the alleged expenditure by the Ghana Cocoa Board to daylight robbery, lamenting the financial strain on Ghana’s resources.
“Today is the first day of April, and I hope Cocobod will tell us that buying keyboards for the ipads of board members at the cost of 4,500 cedis each is just an “April fool thing”. Ghana has never been bruised and looted this way before”
Godwin Ako Gunn
Furthermore, the statement from Mr Ako Gunn delved into the broader context of cocoa pricing and the alleged failure of the current administration to heed warnings from former President John Dramani Mahama regarding fair remuneration for cocoa farmers.
Mr Gunn asserted that the ruling New Patriotic Party administration through Cocobod, resorted to propaganda tactics to discredit Mr Mahama’s concerns, ultimately leading to a situation where cocoa smuggling flourished.
Citing reputable industry estimates, Mr Ako Gunn claimed that Ghana may have lost a staggering $1.8 to $2.5 billion to cocoa smuggling, a consequence of what he described as the ruling government’s neglect of farmers’ welfare and failure to address price differentials that incentivize illicit trade.
“I also recall NDC’s national communication officer, Sammy Gyamfi, battling out the NPP’s falsehoods and the twisting of facts being churned out by Cocobod officials during the period.
“He mounted a spirited defence of John Mahama’s warnings, among other things that the low farmer prices were likely to affect the morale of farmers who gave out their lands for galamsey operators and accepted higher prices from smugglers. Today, the very same galamsey and smuggling are being blamed for Ghana’s historic low cocoa output”
Godwin Ako Gunn
Controversies Over Cocobod Forward Sales System
Moreover, the Deputy Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Godwin Ako Gunn accused the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) of exaggerating the challenges posed by the forward sales system, without proposing viable alternatives.
He lauded the initiatives taken under former President John Dramani Mahama administration, particularly a pilot program aimed at optimizing the benefits of forward sales while mitigating risks associated with fluctuating cocoa prices.
However, Mr Ako Gunn lamented the fate of the experts behind the innovative program, alleging that they were hounded out of their role upon the New Patriotic Party’s assumption of power.
The National Democratic Congress Deputy Communications Officer concluded his statement by stating that the next National Democratic Congress administration under former President John Dramani Mahama would rectify the perceived shortcomings of the Ghana Cocoa Board if elected.
He stressed that the next National Democratic Congress administration shall prioritize the recruitment of top Ghanaian talents to steer Cocobod back to its former glory.
Mr Ako Gunn thus urged all Ghanaians to keep hope alive for a brighter future under the leadership of former President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress when elected into power.
