Joseph Boahen Aidoo
The 2020 Auditor General’s report on the Public Accounts of Ghana – Public Boards, Corporations and Other Statutory Institutions has revealed that two staff has sued the COCOBOD for their unlawful dismissal.
According to the report, the two officers namely, Mr Osei Boateng, a Senior Technical Officer and Mr Hayford Tweneboah–Koduah, an Assistant Technical Officer were alleged to have extorted funds from farmers for the distribution of free fertilizers.
Another staff Mr Amegashie-Duvon also sued the Board for unlawful dismissal as he was alleged to have engaged in a unilateral action in trading leading to a loss of USD750,000 for which he did not report to Management.
The Audit Service noted that ‘’We also noted that eleven (11) other officers suffered the same fate of dismissal for extorting funds from farmers’’.
It added that ‘’ These officers petitioned COCOBOD for wrongful dismissal and the suits were pending in court.
However, a Judgement was given in favour of Mr Osei Boateng and was to be paid six months’ salary in addition to the cost of GH¢10,000 incurred by him.
Also, the Legal Services Unit did not advise the Board to follow and exhaust all due procedures in the termination of the appointment of officers.
Due to the Board has lost an amount of GH¢10,000 plus six-month salary, which could have been used to facilitate the production, processing and marketing of premium quality cocoa, coffee and shea nut.
‘’We admonished Management to seek legal advice from the Legal Services Unit to ensure that due diligence and required procedures are followed before dismissing officers’’ the report said.
It added that the Management response that: “Management always endeavour to adhere to laid down processes and procedures for the appointment of staff as well as the termination of the contract of staff.
‘’ Management holds the position that, for the termination of appointment of Mr Osei Boateng, all the necessary provisions in the Policy Guidelines on termination of appointment were strictly adhered to including granting him a fair hearing before the Disciplinary Committee’’ portion of the Audit report stated.
It also stated that ‘’COCOBOD has not lost six months’ salary as a result of the termination of appointment of Mr Boateng. This is because if his appointment had not been terminated, he would be enjoying the payment salary every month up to date’’.
‘’ Therefore, his termination has occasioned no loss funds to COCOBOD. Management has at all times seek advice from the Legal Department with regards to legal issues and follows due process in all legal matters.”
Audit Position
‘’We wish to reiterate that the six months’ salary paid to Mr Osei Boateng constitutes a loss because he did not work for it’’ the report concluded.
BY Daniel Bampoe