Luv News investigations have revealed massive diversion of chemicals and other inputs meant for government’s free mass cocoa spraying in the Ashanti Region.

In part one of the investigations, Luv FM's Eratus Asare Donkor revealed that various collaborators, including persons believed to be security personnel collude to sell the government supplied products on the open market at the expense of poor cocoa farmers.

During my investigations, I met an informant for COCOBOD, Kwame Frimpong during his investigations. The tall, energetic man revealed to him that he is a member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC). 

According to Kwame Frimpong, he was introduced to COCOBOD’s Chief Executive Officer-in-charge of Operations,  Kofi Kutu Atse in November last year.

He was subsequently attached to COCOBOD’s security services, tasked to help trace smugglers of cocoa inputs and report same to authorities for action, with a promise of regularized appointment.

Within days of his engagement, Frimpong detected some Burkinabes who lodged in a hotel at Krofrom in Kumasi, had bought a quantity of CODAPEC chemicals, and they were looking for more.

Kwame suggested to COCOBOD authorities that they feign interest as a way of getting the suspects and their accomplices arrested.

COCOBOD authorities agreed to the plan and word was sent to the Regional Police Command for assistance with head of Security, Mr. Ayalingo visiting Kumasi to lead a joint COCOBOD-Police search.

At a point COCOBOD officials opened up one of their warehouses in Kumasi to the suspected smugglers in order to convince them. A deal was struck and a successful Kwame managed to get the Burkinabes to move their trucks from Techiman to Kumasi.

When all looked set for the arrest of the suspects, he says, Mr. Ayalingo called off the operation at the last minute.

The next day the Regional CID instead arrested Kwame and charged him with murder of an unknown person in Sunyani.

He was made to write a statement on a different charge of deceit of a public officer.

Regional Police Commander, DCOP Kofi Boakye, confirms such an operation took place, but says the command only offered resources to assist.

When I mentioned Kwame’s name to him the Police Chief described him as a wanted criminal who will be arrested on sight, alleging he deals with smugglers of cocoa inputs.

DCOP Boakye says the entire operation was called off after COCOBOD found out it made no prosecution sense because Kwame was, as he put it, ‘double –dealing’.

Mr. Ayalingo and other  COCOBOD officials in Kumasi have declined comment.

In many of the cases tipped off by these informants, either suspects were not arrested or the was no prosecution.

Kwame Ogyam recounts an operation at near Tepa, where 46 boxes of Akate Master and Confidor were seized.

According to him, two people, a female owner of an agrochemical shop and her errand boy were arrested as confirmed by this journalist, who was part of the operation.

Goaso Police confirmed the seizure but I have been informed that the case was handled by one Chief Inspector Azambio who has since retired from the Police Service, and the suspects granted bail.

When I sought to discover the outcome of prosecution and the status of the seized items, the Gaoso Divisional Commander asked me to call in two days for the information and subsequently refused to respond to my calls and text messages.

However, I have discovered that in many of the cases, items are handed back to the suspects and the law is relaxed.

This journalist has also confirmed the seizure of 36 boxes of Akate master and Confidor in an agro-chemical shop behind the District Assembly office at Mankranso.

DSP Napen, then Commander at Mankranso,  now at Suntreso Command ordered the arrest of one Nana Osei and another 26 boxes of Akate Master and Confidor were seized at Kunsu, DSP Napen’s jurisdiction but investigations revealed police did not prosecute anybody for the two cases.

When I contacted DSP Napen, he told me he will  "have to find out about the actions I took, I think I sent some of the items to the Ministry of Agric, I need to check the docket.”

I also discovered Cocobod Head of Security, Mr. Ayalingo, also led police to bust two Nigerians and two Ghanaians at residential facility behind the SSNIT Flats at Asuoyeboah in Kumasi.

About 87 large sacks of Atara, Confidor, Akate Master, and Fanogro were found inside a garage.

The items were first brought to Suntreso Police Station under the supervision of then Crime Officer, Nana but investigations never established any prosecution details.

Informant Ogyam whose tip-off led to the seizure says he saw the goods being loaded back into a truck by the Nigerians.

Ogyam also recounts another operation with Mr. Ayalingo at Manso Abore, where 62 boxes of Confidor and Akate Master were seized.

One Kwaku Nsiah was arrested.

Management of COCOBOD in Kumasi will not comment on these cases. and when I contacted Mr. Ayalingo, he insisted that I speak instead with the Public Affairs Director of COCOBOD, who requested details of the investigations but is yet to respond to them despite their being delivered four days ago.

 

Listen to Part two of the investigative report below: