The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has alleged a conflict-of-interest situation at the crisis-hit Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) involving some top management members.

In an extensive post on his Facebook page on Thursday, the MP alleged that the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr Randy Abbey, and his Acting Deputy in charge of Finance and Administration, Ato Boateng, are linked to a company, Atlas Commodities Limited, which he claims is involved in the purchase of cocoa.

According to the MP, a search at the Registrar-General’s Department reveals that both the Chief Executive Officer and his acting deputy are associated with Atlas Commodities.

He further alleges that the company has been buying cocoa using funds meant for Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), including Produce Buying Companies (PBCs).

The MP published what he described as evidence of a waybill issued in the name of Atlas Commodities Limited, indicating the movement of cocoa from Kedjebi within the 2025/2026 crop season.

The document shared by the MP allegedly references 800 bags of Grade One cocoa, and he raised “legitimate questions” about the operational role of the private company within the cocoa purchasing chain.

Below is the full article by the MP:

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BIG SCANDAL LOOMING AT COCOBOD

One of the reasons cocoa farmers continue to endure hardship under the current COCOBOD administration is what appears to be blatant insensitivity and possible abuse of office.

Serious concerns have emerged regarding the leadership of COCOBOD under Randy Abbey and his deputy, Mr Ato Boateng, Acting Deputy Chief Executive (Finance & Administration), whose established professional association with Atlas Commodities Limited is confirmed by records at the Registrar-General’s Department and further corroborated by publicly available information, including a simple Google or AI search, which shows that he has been the company’s Chief Executive Officer since 2018.

Attached is a waybill issued in the name of Atlas Commodities Limited indicating the movement of cocoa from Kedjebi within the 2025/2026 crop season. The document references 800 bags of Grade One cocoa, raising legitimate questions about the operational role of this private company within the cocoa purchasing chain.

It is alleged that funds meant for Licensed Buying Companies, including PBCs, to purchase cocoa were instead redirected to this private entity, with cocoa allegedly hoarded in anticipation of future price increases.

These alleged activities are said to be taking place in parts of the Central and Eastern Regions, raising concerns about the scale of the operation.

COCOBOD is the regulator of all Licensed Buying Companies. Therefore, how can the regulator of the industry be seen to operate, directly or indirectly, as a buying company within the same system it supervises? If true, this would represent a serious conflict of interest and a breach of regulatory integrity.

Further claims suggest that Atlas Commodities Limited does not operate its own warehouses but may be relying on existing PBC warehouse facilities.

Most concerning is the allegation that Atlas Commodities may be operating within warehouses registered under PBC. COCOBOD regulations require that every warehouse be registered under a specific Licensed Buying Company. If a warehouse is registered under PBC, it should not be used for the storage, grading, sealing or processing of cocoa belonging to another company.

If proven, such an arrangement would constitute a serious regulatory breach and raise critical questions for the district Quality Control Officers responsible for oversight.

Additionally, it is being alleged that the Chief Executive has withheld a task force report related to these matters, preventing the public from knowing the full extent of its findings.

These are grave concerns that demand urgent and independent investigation. The matter has reportedly been brought to the attention of the Jasikan and Hohoe Police Stations.

Cocoa farmers deserve transparency, accountability and protection from any actions that undermine their livelihoods.