The government has directed the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, to launch a comprehensive investigation into the finances and operations of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) covering the past eight years.
The directive was announced on Thursday, February 12, by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson during a press briefing on measures aimed at stabilising the cocoa sector amid rising challenges.
Dr Forson explained that Cabinet took the decision to promote transparency and strengthen accountability within COCOBOD and the wider cocoa industry.
“To ensure accountability and transparency in the management of COCOBOD and the cocoa sector as a whole, Cabinet has directed the Attorney General to commission concurrent forensic and criminal investigations into the activities of COCOBOD over the last eight years,” he said.
The announcement followed an emergency meeting convened by President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday, February 11, to address growing concerns in the cocoa sector.
Government said the investigations will run alongside sweeping structural reforms aimed at restoring COCOBOD’s financial stability and safeguarding the livelihoods of cocoa farmers across the country.
The cocoa industry has recently faced significant turbulence, particularly due to delays in payments to farmers nationwide — a situation that has increased anxiety among stakeholders and raised concerns about Ghana’s long-term sustainability as one of the world’s leading cocoa producers.
