The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Dr. Randy Abbey, is facing calls for his dismissal amidst a growing crisis in the cocoa sector. The Minority Caucus in Parliament is urging President John Dramani Mahama to remove Dr. Abbey, citing his alleged incompetence and mismanagement of the sector.
According to GhanaWeb, Dr. Abbey has responded to the calls, stating that the challenges facing the industry are a result of decisions taken by the previous administration. He explained that the long-standing syndicated loan model, which had financed cocoa purchases for 32 years, collapsed during the 2023/2024 season under the previous government.
The Minority contends that the ongoing reforms, including the reduction of the cocoa producer price, will shortchange farmers and worsen their plight. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Economy Committee, stated that Dr. Abbey’s leadership has been marked by poor decisions, leading to a growing crisis in the cocoa sector.
Dr. Abbey has defended his position, saying the current funding model for cocoa purchases was not introduced by his administration but inherited from the previous government. “The model that we are using today is not a model that I created. It is a model that we inherited, which was used in the 2024/2025 season,” he said.
The controversy has sparked outrage among cocoa farmers, who are already struggling with rising costs and delayed payments. The government has been urged to take stern measures to address the crisis and protect the interests of farmers.
The fate of Dr. Abbey hangs in the balance as the Minority Caucus continues to push for his removal.
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Author: Korkor Anumu
