Former Minister of Agriculture and NPP flagbearer aspirant, Bryan Acheampong, is under fire for claiming credit for a COCOBOD policy he is said to have fiercely opposed while he served as Agric Minister under the immediate past Akufo-Addo government.

The policy, championed by then COCOBOD CEO, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, sought to move COCOBOD away from its traditional and much-criticised syndicated loan system to a new, sustainable financing model designed to reduce mounting debts. However, it faced stiff opposition from the sector minister.

According to highly placed cabinet sources from the Akufo-Addo administration, Bryan Acheampong, with the support of the Finance Ministry, strongly resisted the proposal. Their opposition led to a compromise announcement of a “middle-ground” approach, described by Acheampong at the time as a way to “complement” the syndicated loan system.

Contrary to his earlier position, a video has now emerged of Acheampong claiming credit for the very funding model he opposed — a move that has drawn sharp criticism from individuals familiar with his stance and his clashes with the former COCOBOD management over the matter.

Insiders from the former government, including Michael Kwesi Aidoo — MP for Oforikrom and son of the former COCOBOD CEO — have expressed shock at Acheampong’s apparent U-turn.

“What a turn of events! They say ‘vindication is in the womb of time,’ and watching this video left me absolutely stunned,” Aidoo wrote, recalling how his father faced fierce resistance over the new proposal and even drafted a resignation letter at one point.

“I still remember how the former CEO of COCOBOD nearly resigned over the new financial model and the cancellation of the syndicated loan, due to opposition from those so-called ‘latter-day prophets.’ In his frustration, he even drafted his resignation letter, ready to submit it. It was only thanks to the timely intervention of one determined woman on the board that he reconsidered,” he revealed.

Aidoo added: “He truly believed the new model was the way forward after years of borrowing, despite the vehement protests. I can only imagine how my younger brother, a financial analyst who helped build that model, must be cringing now. I can imagine how J.B. will be feeling right now. And all those who know the untold story, how are they feeling today? The NDC government is now using the model — a model we couldn’t campaign on because of the opposition to it. Negative media was even sponsored against it. God! Thank you for life. Indeed, it’s a good time to be alive. Astonishing!”

Other former government insiders have also criticised Acheampong’s claims.

“I have watched a video of Bryan Okai Acheampong claiming credit for COCOBOD’s decision not to pursue a syndicated loan,” wrote Fred Gakpo Etse.

“It is imperative that Bryan Okai Acheampong, MP for Abetifi, ceases attributing the ingenuity of the former COCOBOD boss to himself and refrains from taking credit for a decision he opposed.

“How can Bryan claim credit for something he vehemently opposed? Something he openly disagreed with in Cabinet? Something he openly opposed at the Finance Committee of the 8th Parliament? Is he not aware that there are living witnesses?”

Both Aidoo and other commentators have shared links to local and international reports showing how Acheampong and the Finance Ministry had publicly confirmed the continuation of the syndicated loan policy, in direct contradiction to COCOBOD’s proposal, which was pushed by the then CEO.