Mr. Ato Boateng, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Finance and Administration at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has dismissed recent claims that he improperly benefited from his position through connections to a private company. In a statement issued in response to the accusations, Mr. Boateng described the allegations as unfounded and inaccurate.
The controversy began after the Minority in Parliament, led by Member of Parliament Vincent Ekow Assafuah for Old Tafo, alleged that Mr. Boateng used his role at COCOBOD to benefit Atlas Commodities Limited. Critics claimed the company operated in Produce Buying Company (PBC) warehouses without proper authorisation and that this represented a conflict of interest involving Mr. Boateng’s previous role with the firm.
In his defence, Mr. Boateng said he resigned as a director of Atlas Commodities Limited on January 20, 2025, before joining the COCOBOD Board. He also stated that he transferred all his shares in the company to trustees, Edinam Yao Cofie and George Ofori, to avoid any direct connection with the business since his appointment.
To demonstrate transparency and compliance with public service rules, Mr. Boateng highlighted that he declared his past interest in Atlas Commodities in his official Declaration of Assets and Liabilities, which was filed with the Auditor-General. This is a requirement for public officials and meant to address any potential conflicts of interest before taking up office.
His statement also clarified that COCOBOD does not hold shares in the Produce Buying Company, and that the responsibilities of his role do not include regulatory decisions related to warehouse operations or seed funding allocations for Licensed Buying Companies. These functions, he pointed out, lie with other departments within the organisation.
Despite denying the allegations, Mr. Boateng has welcomed investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) into the matter to ensure full transparency.
The issue remains contentious, with the Minority seeking a deeper probe into alleged regulatory breaches and possible abuse of office.
