Big Scandal looming at COCOBOD – Vincent Ekow Assafuah reveals

February 20, 2026

The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah has hinted at what he describes as a major scandal that will soon rock the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), pointing to alleged irregularities he claims are worsening the hardship faced by cocoa farmers across the country.

According to him, there is a serious conflict of interest and possible abuse of office involving top management officials at COCOBOD.

In a lengthy social media post on Thursday, Ekow Assafuah alleged that COCOBOD’s Acting Deputy Chief Executive for Finance and Administration, Mr. Ato Boateng, is buying cocoa through a private company Atlas Commodities Limited, where he currently serves as Chief Executive Officer.

According to the MP, documents including a waybill from the current 2025/2026 crop season show that Atlas Commodities Limited has been moving cocoa from Kedjebi in the Volta Region. The waybill references 800 bags of Grade One Cocoa. This, he said, begs questions about how a private company linked to COCOBOD’s Deputy Executive is operating within the cocoa purchasing system.

“It is alleged that funds meant for Licensed Buying Companies, including PBCs, to purchase cocoa were instead redirected to this private entity, with cocoa allegedly hoarded in anticipation of future price increases,” the post claimed.

Ekow Assafuah also indicated that these operations are primarily taking place in parts of the Central and Eastern Regions, alleging that this could be a “grand scheme,” and warned that such constitutes a breach of COCOBOD’s regulatory principles.

“COCOBOD is the regulator of all Licensed Buying Companies. Therefore, how can the regulator of the industry be seen to also operate, directly or indirectly, as a buying company within the same system it supervises? If true, this would represent a serious conflict of interest and a breach of regulatory integrity,” Assafuah said.

The MP further noted that public records at the Registrar-General’s Department confirm Mr. Boateng’s association with Atlas Commodities Limited, adding that online searches have also verified his connection, showing he has served as the company’s Chief Executive Officer since 2018.

The post also alleged that Atlas Commodities Limited does not operate its own warehouses but may be using facilities belonging to the Produce Buying Company (PBC).

“Most concerning is the allegation that Atlas Commodities may be operating within warehouses registered under PBC. COCOBOD regulations require that every warehouse be registered under a specific Licensed Buying Company. If a warehouse is registered under PBC, it should not be used for the storage, grading, sealing, or processing of cocoa belonging to another company,” the post explained.

Ekow Assafuah also implicated COCOBOD’s Chief Executive, Dr. Ransford Abbey, claiming that he has prevented the public release of a task force report related to these issues.

“Additionally, it is being alleged that the Chief Executive has sat on a task force report related to these matters, preventing the public from knowing the full extent of its findings,” the MP revealed, adding that Police Stations at Jasikan and Hohoe have reportedly been notified of about the matter.

“These are grave concerns that demand urgent and independent investigation,” he stated. “Cocoa farmers deserve transparency, accountability, and protection from any actions that undermine their livelihoods.”