By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
Private legal practitioner Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers has called on COCOBOD Chief Executive Randy Abbey to choose between fully maintaining his role at COCOBOD or stepping down as Chairman of Black Stars Management Committee.
According to the lawyer, there is a growing crisis at COCOBOD, and Dr Abbey’s dual role as CEO of COCOBOD and chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee constitutes a conflict of interest.
“There is a crisis at COCOBOD. I don’t expect Randy Abbey to continue chairing the Black Stars management committee. He has to drop one; he can’t be double-minded,” Brako-Powers stated.
During a panel discussion on GBC’s Current Agenda today, February 28, 2026, the legal practitioner said the government should consider appointing someone more present to steer affairs at COCOBOD.
There is mounting concern about developments at COCOBOD, Ghana’s cocoa regulatory body.
The controversy surrounds Dr Abbey, who is facing calls for his dismissal over alleged mismanagement and poor leadership. A civil society group, Good Governance Advocacy Group Ghana (GGAGG), has petitioned John Dramani Mahama to remove him, citing concerns over financial mismanagement, questionable renovations and resistance to change.
There have also been criticisms from cocoa farmers regarding the government’s decision to reduce the cocoa producer price. Farmers say they are struggling to survive due to delayed payments and reduced prices.
