Dr Randy Abbey is the CEO of the Ghana Cocoa Board
Dr Randy Abbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has vowed to lead the institution with integrity and transparency, committing to reforms that prioritise inclusivity and value for money.
Speaking to the media after an engagement with cocoa farmers in Nkawie in the Atwima Nwabiagya Municipality of the Ashanti Region, Dr Abbey emphasised that his leadership would break away from the practices that have crippled COCOBOD.
“I will not engage in things that have brought COCOBOD to where it is today,” he stated, outlining his vision for restoring the institution to its glorious past.
According to him, COCOBOD’s current state is deeply concerning and demands a concerted effort rooted in hard work, discipline, and strategic leadership to restore its former glory.
The institution is currently grappling with significant financial challenges, due to mismanagement and financial impropriety under the previous administration.
Dr Abbey revealed that the former management awarded road contracts amounting to GHS 21 billion, with GHS4.4 billion in outstanding payments.
Additionally, only 40,000 out of 156,000 hectares of moribund and diseased cocoa farms were rehabilitated, despite a $263 million facility from the World Bank intended to support cocoa production.
These issues, he noted, have left COCOBOD in a financially distressed state, presenting a daunting task for the new leadership to revive one of the mainstays of the economy.
Dr Abbey called on cocoa farmers to manage their expectations given the scale of the challenges and urged collective effort from all stakeholders to reposition the sector.
He said it was crucial to carry the farmers along every step of the way, highlighting the importance of engaging with farmers to help them understand the realities facing COCOBOD.
He reassured farmers of his commitment to working closely with them to rescue the cocoa sector from further decline.
Dr. Abbey underscored that a complete departure from the leadership style of the past is essential for real progress, noting that many of the previous approaches had stalled growth and undermined the institution’s mandate.
Despite the many difficulties ahead, he remains resolute in delivering on the President’s mandate – to fix the problems and restore COCOBOD’s strength and credibility.
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