Dr. Agyemang Manu said he instructed Dr. Anyah not to cancel the contract because it could land the management of the facility in a case of judgement debt.

According to him, Dr. Anyah had no authority to act in such a manner because he was given specific instructions to hold on.

Dr. Agyemeng Manu who was commenting on the issue on Monday, his first since it broke, said he felt “very uncomfortable” upon learning the CEO took the decision in the absence of a board and without seeking authorisation from him as supervising Minister.

The Minister stated on the Super Morning Show on Joy FM that “To the best of my knowledge, that UniBank thing should be hanging until a board is in place…So my thinking is that is uniBank would still be there.”

Expressing displeasure at the development, Dr. Agyemang Manu wondered how Korle Bu could not follow corporate governance practice structures indicating, that “Apart from your board, you seek authority from your Minister.”

He questioned “What stops Dr. Anyah from coming to the Minister”, adding that “these are basic governance issues.”

Background

Musician Kwame Asare Oben (A-Plus) leveled allegations of corruption against two deputies at the Office of the Chief of Staff, for the roles they played in compelling Korle Bu to rescind a decision to terminate a contract it entered with UniBank to outsource revenue collection on the premises of the facility.

Francis Asenso Boakye (left) and Samuel Abu Jinapor (right).

Both institutions issued separate statements over the weekend clarifying their positions in the matter which resurfaced following a leaked conversation between A-Plus and Deputy CID Boss, ACP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah which sought to discredit an earlier statement describing the allegation as “baseless”.

The musician claimed Messrs Francis Asenso Boakye and Samuel Abu Jinapor used their office to put pressure on the management of Korle Bu to withdraw the decision.

But A-Plus in a live post on Facebook over the weekend, has reviewed his allegation of corrupt practices against the Deputy Chiefs of Staff after one of the accused, Abu Jinapor broke his silence on over the matter on Joy FM Friday.

“Now that I have come to understand that Abu does not even understand the issue, I will go ahead, like I have said already, and apologize for how I put this whole thing out. Listening to him, he does not even understand. People have lied to him.”

A-Plus continued: “…If he was being honest on radio, and I have the impression that he was being honest, and that is all that they told him, then they have deceived him.”

Kwaku Boahen’s allegations follow investigations by host of Adom FM’s “Dwaso Nsem” Morning show which revealed acts of corruption and negligence at COCOBOD.

Contributing on the matter, he alleged that the new chairman of COCOCBOD demanded a Toyota V8 vehicle from government before he discharges his duties as the chairman.

“The new COCOBOD chair is demanding a car and an office before he works. I thought he was the one complaining about Opuni’s salary and now you need V8 before you work” he said on “Dwaso Nsem” Monday.

According to the NDC communicator, negligence by officials of the company has led to a dip in the production of cocoa despite the huge amount of money these officers are given as benefits and emoluments.

And therefore could not fathom why Mr. Owusu Agyemang who is the chairman of the board should make such huge demands from government.

Listen to Kwaku Boahen’s claim

But debunking Kwaku Boahen’s claims, on the same show Thursday, Mr Owusu Agyemang said members of the NDC are only trying hard to tarnish his image since he raised concerns about the outrageous GH¢ 70,000 monthly salary for the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni.

“I was a former minister during Kufour’s regime and I never stayed in any government’s bungalow or even demanded a car from government and so why should I demand for V8 before working for the country.

“I have my own cars and I’ve put in no request for COCOCOD to give me car to work. I am even working hard to make sure that salaries of top management of COCOBOD are slashed so we concentrate more on the work and not the money.

According to him, those piling attacks and unsubstantiated allegations against him do not have the muscles to shoulder defamation costs if they are found guilty citing instances where he has sued some of them and costs awarded but till date no dime has been paid.

“These small boys in NDC are only interested in tarnishing my image and I don’t want to drag them to court because these small boys who have defamed me, after taking them to court, I have even not received my damages and so they should be careful “ he noted.

Listen to Mr Owusu Agyemang

The former Housing Minister however declared government’s commitment to reviving the cocoa industry by increasing production.

Mr. Owusu-Agyemang takes over from the immediate-past Board Chairman of COCOBOD, Daniel Ohene Agyekum, who served as Ashanti Regional Minister and Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States of America under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.

The swearing ceremony come weeks after a probe into the activities of the former Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr. Stephen Frimpong over corruption allegations.

Dr. Opuni was on January 12, 2017, asked to leave office shortly after the new NPP government was inaugurated.