The Deputy Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) in charge of operations has reacted to the setting up of an oversight desk at the organisation.

In an interview with JoyNews, Dr Emmanuel Opoku there won’t be the need for a monitoring desk overseen by the Finance Ministry and BoG Governor.

This, he explained is because the persons of interest are already present on COCOBOD’s Board.

He stated that in the past few years, every decision they have made has received approval from the Finance Ministry and Cabinet.

Dr Opoku also disagreed with assertions that the COCOBOD has been financially indisciplined in managing its affairs.

“I don't have much to say. The only thing I want to say is that if you look at the COCOBOD structure, the Finance Ministry or the minister’s representative is a member of the board, so in other words the minister always represents…the Governor of Bank of Ghana is also a member of the board,” he said.

He added that in cases where the Minister is occupied, due to the nature of government business, they fail to make it to meetings.

Read also: https://www.myjoyonline.com/finance-ministry-bog-set-up-financial-oversight-desk-at-cocobod/

This follows the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta confirming to JoyNews the establishment of a monitoring desk by the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to observe the finances of the COCOBOD.

This is to ensure discipline in its expenditure, he said.

He noted that the purchase of fertilizers and the construction of cocoa roads will also be strictly monitored to ensure they are within budget limits.

However, the Deputy Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) in charge of operations insists that COCOBOD is working according to the requirements of the law.

“We work under a board chaired by somebody appointed by the government and the Minister of Finance is a member of the board. We have the Minister of Agric also on the board. In this case, It is the deputy minister who represents the minister so I don't think COCOBOD has done anything wrong.

“We (COCOBOD) cannot spend anything without the board's consent, and then our supervisory minister's approval so it beats imagination, to believe that somebody raises an accusation that we have been reckless,” he explained.

He also mentioned that COCOBOD had made a few appearances before Parliament, and “I don't think they have found anything against COCOBOD” while insisting that “We have auditors that audit our accounts and they understand how COCOBOD works.”