BY VALENTIA TETTEH
The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over what it describes as a possible conflict of interest, abuse of office, and administrative malpractice involving the Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer for Finance and Administration at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Ato Boateng.
The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo and a member of Parliament’s Economic and Development Committee, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has formally petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate alleged regulatory breaches within the cocoa sector.
Briefing journalists in Parliament on Monday, February 23, 2026, Mr. Assafuah questioned the circumstances under which Atlas Commodities Limited a company he said Mr. Boateng previously led as Chief Executive Officer is allegedly operating in warehouses registered under the Produce Buying Company (PBC).
“How did Atlas Commodities find itself operating in an arena that it did not have a licence to operate?” he questioned. “It can be said on authority that Atlas Commodities Limited has operated within warehouses registered under PBC.” According to the Minority MP, the situation raises ethical and constitutional concerns, arguing that regulators must remain independent. “A regulator cannot be both referee and player,” Mr. Assafuah stated.
The Minority is demanding a series of investigations and accountability measures, including a criminal probe by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, a constitutional conflict of interest determination by CHRAJ, and a forensic audit of warehouse registrations and cocoa movement records.
“We demand a full criminal investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor. We demand a constitutional conflict of interest determination… We also demand a forensic audit of warehouse registrations and cocoa movement records,” he said.
The group is also calling for full disclosure from COCOBOD, National Security, and other relevant authorities, insisting that investigations would help restore confidence in the sector.
“If there is no wrongdoing, investigation will clear the air, but if wrongdoing is confirmed, accountability must follow. Cocoa is too important to Ghana’s rural economy to allow regulatory compromise. The farmers deserve protection. The nation deserves transparency,” he added.
Concerns Over PBC Operations
Mr. Assafuah further raised concerns over reports that some PBC workers have allegedly gone unpaid for extended periods, claiming the company has been deprived of the resources needed to operate effectively.
He alleged that funds intended for PBC operations are being redirected to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs), while Atlas Commodities Limited is reportedly using PBC warehouses to undertake commercial activities.
The Minority is therefore demanding compensation from Atlas Commodities Limited, arguing that the use of PBC warehouses has generated profits while allegedly depriving the state of revenue.
The allegations come at a time when Ghana’s cocoa sector continues to face financial pressures, including challenges related to payments to farmers and operational constraints within key institutions.
COCOBOD and the officials named are yet to publicly respond to the claims.
