Audio Attachment: Listen Hackman Owusu-Agyeman |
Board Chairman at Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod), Hon. Hackman Owusu Agyeman says GHc 1.8Bn cannot be traced from the accounts of the state-controlled institution.
Responding to issues raised by the Minority at their press conference in the Western Region, he eplained that the erstwhile administration which expended the funds before leaving office, failed to properly account for what the money was used for specifically, adding that they had to borrow additional 3million Ghana Cedis from commercial bank before Cocobod could settle its indebtedness to farmers this season.
The Minority in Parliament, on Monday accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, led by President Nana Akufo-Addo, of neglecting cocoa farmers in Ghana.
Member of Parliament for Bodi in the Western Region, Hon. Sampson Ahi in an interview with Okayfm explained that from the cancellation of some road projects, challenges with cocoa mass spraying exercise, and replacement of free fertilizers with subsidized ones, it is evident government is short-changing cocoa farmers.
On 21st June 2017, the Minority in Parliament held a similar press conference and drew the attention of the NPP Government to the fact that, the Ghanaian Cocoa farmer had indirectly paid for the fertilizers procured for the 2016/17 season, and therefore selling same to them amounts to broad day light robbery.
"It is also sad to note that no provision was made for cocoa roads in the COCOBOD budget for 2017/18. This means that the cocoa roads which are deteriorating faster than anticipated due to the neglect of the NPP government, is going to get worse, making users (mostly farmers) wretchedly despondent and low-spirited to continue to labour for our dear nation, meanwhile they have also cancelled all cocoa road contracts which were started by our administration," he said.
He also challenged government to come clean on how much has been accrued so far from the cocoa stabilization fund.
".....in Ghana, cocoa farmers are paid in kind and in cash, and by replacing the free fertilizer with a subsidized system, the NPP would inflict untold hardships on the cocoa farmer,” he added.
But in a quick riposte on OkayFM’s "Ade Akye Abia" Morning Show, Hackman Owusu Agyeman described the Minority's press conference as the effusions of a confused person. He wondered the moral right of the NDC to even address Ghanaians on matters relating to cocoa farmers.
"They are just doing their usual politics and propaganda with cocoa issues...The kind of rot they left at cocobod is unimaginable....it stinks. Some 34 contracts which were paid for by the NDC government does not exist in the books of the Cocobod....
“We will soon publish every information we have about the rot that was perpetrated by the NDC government at cocoa board", he added
Currently, he said, investigations are being carried out by EOCO and the CID, and when they are done, "we will make the findings public".
Source: Isaac kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com
Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. |
Somebody help me I am confuse or should I say disappointed. You will just publish findings found, as simple as that? So that perpetrators walk around freely, to go unpunished? Remember you campaign on corruption and you dealing with it when you get the nod. Now all you do is complain and just publish rot? Please we need more than that. We are not interested in knowing. We are more interested in punishing offenders. This way we will make headway with fighting corruption. Otherwise, 2020 is just lurking around.Gradually My patience is running out when it comes to fighting corruption.
Is Hackman clean since he was appointed as Board Chairman to date? A modern day corporate Board Chairman who is parading himself as a revolutionary Executive chairman. Doing PR work giving unwholesome directives. Your records at COCOBOD are being watched kept. Mr president and the appointing authorities, please wise up. Not all praises all alliance are genuine. Some of your appointed agents are "dangerous".
the specs on his eyes are too dark to see the accounts period.
Arrest them and stop complaining. we are tired of u crying always.
if you vote drugs addicted as your president he will also select i d i o t s as his ministers and you will hear them complaining everyday you have the powers why nor proscute them allways noise. stop that noises and wrk period
Massa; some NDC clones; robots and non thinkables criminal minds are just naive and just ***barred word*** of how these forensic auditing works ; this is typical NDC propaganda ;massa !!!!!make NO MISTAKE THESE THIFFS AND NATION WRECKERS WILL BE PROSECUTED AND SOME CONTRACTS CANCELLED BY THE BOARD !!!!!; the problem is that you need to investigate and do proper forensic audit of every thing that went on under the NDC and Jon Mahama ; this takes time; you just do not get up and jail people just because there are discrepancies in the accounts and that is why a PROSECUTOR will soon be appointed under the AG who will supervise the activities of the SPECIAL PROSECUTOR because as matters stand now if the cases are given to the AG 's Office it will take years because there are other cases at the AG's office which is also going to court ; Nana Addo has been in office for only 10 months and it took 8 years for Jon Mahama and the NDC to still from Ghanaians even awarding fake contracts in January 2016; massa NEVER undersestimate Nana Addo in matters of stilling because if the evidence is there Nana Adfdo will take action ; besides Ke Agyepong has already said ; the prosecution files of DR Opuni are ready ; this include the Phantom contracts he awarded to Lordina Mahama and other NDC members ;masdsa; be patient TIME WILL TELL AND MAKE NO MISTAKE THESE NDC THIFFS WILL BE PROSECUTED .
We are tired of you NPP lairs. If you cannot trace GHc 1.8 billion, what have you been doing since January 7, 2017? Since you came to power, you have not been able to haul a single soul before the law courts. Hackman, you were the first to come and disclose the salary of Dr Opuni, saying it was too high. Can you please disclose how much Joseph Boahen Aidoo is taking? After criticizing the previous government of ***barred word*** the coffers of Cocobod, you Hackman was paid GHc 20,000 during your first meeting as board chair. This witch hinting must end. NPP has penetrated deeper beyond just the CEO of Cocobod and you have sacked directors and even managers. We left the campaign platform way back in December 2016 so stop this Childish attitude. We are all waiting to see what your NPP will leave behind at Cocobod after 4 years.
Everyday same issues rot here and rot there left by the previous government. Send the offenders to jail or just shu,,t up. Ghanaians put you guys there to solve the problems and not to moan about them. NDC isn't power now , NPP is , get to work, is that difficult thing to do. Have you lots forgotten that, the day of planning is different from the day of battle. This is the day, just fight the good fight ok .
Fiifi Boafo of Oman Fm is taking GHs12,000.00 every month for sweeping the CEO of Cocoa board's office, verify it and confirm Papa Hackman.
MR. CHAIRMAN HAVE YOU SEEN THAT ALL THOSE COMMENTED SAID THE SAME THING? I AM IN SUPPORT OF ALL WHAT THEY SAID.PLEASE IF YOU CANNOT PROSECUTE THEM, LET US GET OUR EARS.