By Sarah Baafi
The Deputy General Secretary of the United Party, Richard Sumah, has questioned how profits reportedly recorded by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) have been utilised, particularly in social interventions and corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Speaking during a panel discussion on the GTV Breakfast Show on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, on the topic, “SIGA Releases Performance Report of SOEs: State-Owned Enterprises Return to Profit”, Mr Sumah said COCOBOD’s reported profitability should prompt a broader discussion about how gains from the cocoa sector are being reinvested.
According to him, COCOBOD, as the state institution mandated to regulate Ghana’s cocoa sector, has responsibilities that extend beyond recording profits.
“If today we are being told that the most performing state agency, COCOBOD, which is mandated to regulate the cocoa sector, has made a profit, my concern is this: if they have truly made profits over the years, where have those profits been invested?” he asked.
Mr Sumah said the report covering the 2025 financial year should provide an opportunity to assess whether COCOBOD’s financial performance has translated into tangible benefits for cocoa farmers, communities and others connected to the industry.
He called for greater clarity on the social intervention programmes and corporate social responsibility initiatives undertaken by the institution.
“Since this is the result for the 2025 financial year, the question we also need to ask is: what social intervention programmes has COCOBOD embarked on, and what other corporate social responsibility initiatives has it undertaken as a result of the gains from its prudent management?” he said.
His comments come amid discussions over the latest performance report on Ghana’s state-owned enterprises, which has renewed attention on the financial health and management of public institutions.
Mr Sumah argued that profitability should not be assessed solely on the basis of figures contained in financial statements, but also by the extent to which improved financial performance contributes to national development and delivers tangible benefits to citizens.
He maintained that when a state institution records significant financial gains, there should be a clear account of how those resources are being deployed, particularly towards interventions that support communities and sectors within its mandate.
