A lecturer at Kumasi Technical University, Dr. Solomon Fokuo, has urged the government to prioritize competence and experience in appointing leaders to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
Speaking on Wontumi Morning Show with host Oheneba Nana Asiedu, he cautioned against political appointments, stating, “The institution is too important to be managed by people who may not have the capacity to handle its responsibilities.”
Dr. Fokuo also commended some Minority Members of Parliament, particularly from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for engaging cocoa farmers and educating them on developments in the sector.
He further called on the Minority to rise above partisan politics and advise the government to replace the current COCOBOD Chief Executive, Randy Abbey, with a more experienced leader. “The government could even appeal to former COCOBOD Chief Executive Joseph Boahen Aidoo to return, because he has the experience to manage the institution effectively,” he suggested.
On cocoa pricing, Dr. Fokuo stressed that a decline in world market prices should not automatically lead to reduced payments to farmers. “The government must develop strategies to ensure cocoa farmers are paid fairly despite fluctuations in the global market,” he said.
He described any move to reduce cocoa prices as unacceptable, adding, “If the government can take credit when the value of the dollar drops, it should also take responsibility for protecting farmers when international prices decline.”