The National Communication Officer for the opposition National Democratic Congress, Sammy Gyamfi Esq. has slammed the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo for lying about the fact of the Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme.

According to Sammy Gyamfi, it was the erstwhile NDC/Mahama administration that set aside and bequeathed to the current government the seed funds of GHS28 million for a pension scheme for cocoa farmers in Ghana.

He indicated that the claim by the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD that the amount under reference was a mere ledger entry, betrays his understanding of what a ledger is, and he is therefore not surprised COCOBOD has made huge losses under his leadership for the six (6) consecutive years he has been at the helm of affairs.

The National Democratic Congress Communication Officer emphasized that if the said GHS28 million had not been set aside between 2013 and 2016 as the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD claimed, the same would not have been captured by the ledger of COCOBOD.

“More importantly, the response of the Management of COCOBOD to this matter captured in paragraph 1254 of the 2020 Auditor General’s report completely belies the ridiculous claim of the grossly incompetent CEO to the effect that, the said GHS28.9 million was a mere ledger entry on paper.
Paragraph 1254 of the 2020 Auditor General’s report states as follows; The amount of GHS28,898,676.88 set aside as Contributory Insurance for the period 2013 to 2016 has been included in total corporate investments. To ensure transparency and fairness, management of COCOBOD will ensure that a separate investment is made for the Contributory Insurance under a Fund Manager.”
Sammy Gyamfi

Cocoa Farmers’ Pension Scheme Is Mahama’s Legacy

Mr Sammy Gyamfi further indicated that the Cocoa Farmers’ Pension Scheme is former President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress legacy. He noted that his position is affirmed by the 2020 Auditor General Reports which found that the amount of GHS 28.9 million was set aside from profits of COCOBOD between 2013-2016.

“More importantly, why did the management of COCOBOD which the grossly incompetent CEO heads, tell the Auditor General that the said amount was included in the “total corporate investments” of the company? Did the management invest a mere paper as part of their total corporate investments? Ridiculous!”
Sammy Gyamfi

He therefore cautioned the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD to desist from spreading blatant lies about the facts of the Cocoa Farmers Pension Scheme which was set and bequeathed to the current government by the John Mahama and NDC administration

He also called on the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo to resign immediately for collapsing COCOBOD.

Meanwhile, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) believes cocoa farmers have benefited from the most generous prices and offers during its rule.

The recent announcement of a 68 per cent increase in producer price, according to NPP Director of Communications Richard Ahiagbah, is a glaring example of the government’s concern for cocoa farmers.