Vincent Ekow Assafuah
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has petitioned the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate alleged conflict of interest concerns involving a senior official of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
Addressing the media, Mr. Assafuah disclosed that his petition seeks independent scrutiny of Mr. Ato Boateng, Acting Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Finance and Administration at COCOBOD, over claims linked to his previous corporate role within the cocoa buying sector.
According to the MP, publicly available records indicate that Mr. Boateng served as Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Commodities Limited in 2018, prior to his appointment to COCOBOD, the statutory body mandated to regulate Licensed Buying Companies and oversee cocoa quality control and exports.
Mr. Assafuah argued that the transition from leading a private cocoa trading firm to occupying a powerful regulatory position within COCOBOD raises legitimate constitutional and governance questions requiring institutional review.
He referenced Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution, which prohibits public officers from placing themselves in situations where personal interests conflict or are likely to conflict with official responsibilities.
“The regulator cannot be the referee and at the same time a player within the same market structure it supervises,” the MP stated, insisting that the matter transcends partisan debate and touches on principles of public trust and regulatory integrity.
The petition, he explained, requests the OSP to conduct a criminal investigation where necessary, while CHRAJ is expected to determine whether the circumstances amount to a constitutional conflict of interest or administrative impropriety.
Mr. Assafuah said the call for investigation was further prompted by emerging reports of operational developments allegedly linked to Atlas Commodities Limited, including complaints filed by a regional manager of the Produce Buying Company (PBC) and the interception of cocoa consignments believed to be connected to the firm.
While noting that these developments remain subject to verification, he maintained that the seriousness of the claims underscores the need for independent inquiry to establish the facts and protect institutional credibility.
The MP emphasised that COCOBOD, established under the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, functions as a regulator responsible for supervising buying companies, licensing warehouses, and safeguarding Ghana’s reputation within the global cocoa market.
He cautioned that any perception of regulatory compromise could undermine confidence in the sector, which remains a cornerstone of rural livelihoods and foreign exchange earnings.
Mr. Assafuah stressed that the petition should not be interpreted as a presumption of wrongdoing but rather as a legitimate accountability mechanism aimed at ensuring transparency and reinforcing public confidence in state institutions.
“If there is no wrongdoing, investigation will clear the air. But if wrongdoing is confirmed, accountability must follow,” he said.
He further urged COCOBOD and relevant state agencies to cooperate fully with investigative processes, stressing that the cocoa sector’s strategic importance to the national economy demands the highest standards of governance.
The MP reiterated his commitment to pursuing the matter through constitutional channels until clarity is achieved, arguing that protecting farmers, preserving regulatory integrity, and upholding the Constitution must remain paramount.
Deputy CEO Denies Allegations
However, Mr. Boateng, has dismissed claims of conflict of interest linked to Atlas Commodities Limited, describing them as “false and unfounded.”
In a statement obtained by Accra-based Citi FM, Mr. Boateng welcomed the calls for investigations by the OSP and CHRAJ, but stressed that the allegations are baseless.
According to the said statement, Mr. Boateng resigned as a director of Atlas Commodities Limited on January 20, 2025, before assuming his current position at COCOBOD.
He also transferred his shares in the company to Edinam Yao Cofie and George Ofori, who now act as trustees of a trust established for this purpose.
The Deputy Chief Executive further noted that he fully declared his previous interest in Atlas Commodities in his official Declaration of Assets and Liabilities, as required of all public officers, and submitted the documentation to the Auditor-General.
The statement explained the COCOBOD’s operational structure, noting that the Board does not hold shares in Produce Buying Company and, therefore, cannot influence its management decisions.
Regulation of Licensed Buying Companies is handled by the Deputy Chief Executive for Operations, while grading, sealing, and cocoa quality oversight fall under the Deputy Chief Executive for Agronomy and Quality Control.
It also explained that the Finance and Administration office is responsible solely for effecting payments after approvals from the Chief Executive, the Board, and the Deputy Chief Executive for Operations have been completed.
Distribution and allocation of seed money to Licensed Buying Companies, when applicable, is managed by the Research Department under Operations and sanctioned by the COCOBOD Board.
The statement highlighted that for the past two years, COCOBOD has not provided seed money to Licensed Buying Companies for cocoa purchases, with companies instead securing their own buyers or bank financing.
Based on these facts, the statement maintained that Mr. Boateng has not used his position to benefit Atlas Commodities Limited.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House