Accra: The Cabinet has instructed the Office of the Attorney General to audit the activities of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) over the past eight years. The decision follows an emergency Cabinet meeting convened to address Ghana's cocoa crisis amid growing concerns from farmer groups, industry stakeholders, and the Minority in Parliament over delayed payments, largely attributed to financial challenges facing cocoa farmers.
According to Ghana Web, the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, announced at a press briefing that Cabinet has directed the Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Akurintinga Ayine, to investigate and uncover the root causes of COCOBOD's crippling GHS 32.9 billion debt. This move is part of broader efforts to restore transparency and accountability in the management of the cocoa sector.
Dr. Ato Forson explained that alongside the audit, Cabinet has also directed the Attorney General to commission concurrent forensic and criminal investigations into COCOBOD's activities over the last eight years. These investigations are expected to run alongside broader structural reforms aimed at restoring COCOBOD's financial records and safeguarding the livelihoods of Ghanaian cocoa farmers.
The government has announced key reforms aimed at strengthening the cocoa sector, improving farmer livelihoods, and bolstering COCOBOD's balance sheet.