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AGRICULTURE

Minority fingers Deputy COCOBOD CEO, Ato Boateng of conflict of interest

The Minority in Parliament has levelled serious conflict of interest allegations against Mr Ato Boateng, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Finance and Administration at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), accusing him of using his regulatory position to benefit his private licensed buying company.

Date Created : 2/23/2026 : Story Author : Dominic shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

At a press conference in Parliament House on Monday, Mr Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo and Minority Spokesperson on Proper Governance and Accountability, alleged that Mr Boateng is influencing decisions to favour Atlas Commodities Limited, a company he claims still belongs to the deputy CEO.

"You cannot be a referee and be a player at the same time. You cannot be a regulator and be a competitor at the same time," Mr Assafuah told journalists, citing the Ghana Cocoa Board Act which establishes COCOBOD as a regulator of licensed buying companies.

Constitutional breach alleged

The Old Tafo MP invoked Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution, which prohibits public officers from placing themselves in positions where their personal interests conflict or are likely to conflict with their official duties.

"The standard or the threshold that has been established by the 1992 Constitution is very clear. There needs not be a wrongdoing. But the likelihood of you positioning yourself that ordinary bystanders can see through it and say it doesn't matter," Mr Assafuah stated.

According to the Minority, public records show that Mr Boateng previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Commodities Limited in 2018. Mr Assafuah displayed documents from the Registrar-General's Department which he said prove Mr Boateng's ownership and directorship of the company.

"Today, that same person occupies one of the most powerful financial and administrative offices within COCOBOD, the institution mandated under law to regulate cocoa buying companies," he said.

Allegations of operational breaches

The Minority further alleged that Atlas Commodities has been operating within warehouses registered under the Produce Buying Company (PBC), a state-owned enterprise, in violation of COCOBOD regulations.

Mr Assafuah cited Appendix One, Sub-section Two of the Regulations and Guidelines for the Internal Marketing of Cocoa, 2015, which requires that all storage sheds be inspected and certificated, and that such certificates are not transferable between companies.

"Under COCOBOD regulations, each licensed buying company must operate within warehouses registered in its own name. The warehouses registered under PBC must not be used by another company for storage, grading, sealing or processing of cocoa," he explained.

The MP also alleged that four trucks belonging to Atlas Commodities have been intercepted by National Security and are currently impounded at the Tema Port. He provided the registration number of one truck—AS-21413—as evidence.

Reports suggest these alleged activities may be taking place across parts of the Central, Eastern and Volta Regions.

Financial implications for farmers

Mr Assafuah expressed concern that COCOBOD is allegedly depriving PBC of funds while channelling support to Atlas Commodities, with consequences for workers.

"There are also troubling reports that some PBC workers reportedly have not been paid for extended periods, at least for a period of one year," he claimed.

He argued that when government funds are diverted from state-owned enterprises to private companies, the state loses revenue needed to pay workers.

"Cocoa farmers are sacrificing daily to sustain the economy. Regulatory leadership must not create even the appearance of benefiting from the same system they supervise," Mr Assafuah stressed.

Minority's demands

The Minority is demanding:

* A full criminal investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor

* A constitutional conflict of interest determination by CHRAJ

* A forensic audit of warehouse registrations and cocoa movement records

* Full disclosure from COCOBOD, National Security and relevant authorities

* Appropriate action if wrongdoing is established

"If there is no wrongdoing, investigation will clear the air. But if wrongdoing is confirmed, accountability must follow," Mr Assafuah emphasised.

AGRICULTURE

Minority fingers Deputy COCOBOD CEO, Ato Boateng of conflict of interest

Date Created : 2/23/2026 : Story Author : Dominic shirimori/Ghanadistricts.com

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