A civil society group, Good Governance Advocacy Group Ghana (GGAGG), has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to remove Dr. Ransford Annetey Abbey, popularly known as Randy Abbey, as Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
In a petition addressed to the President Mahama through the Chief of Staff at Jubilee House, Julius Debrah, the group accused the COCOBOD boss of poor leadership and mismanagement.
The petition, signed by the Executive Director of GGAGG, who described himself as “a concerned cocoa farmer,” said the request was being made “to safeguard the cocoa sector.”
“I write to formally request the immediate removal of Dr. Randy Abbey from his current position as CEO of COCOBOD to safeguard the cocoa sector,” the petition stated.
The petitioner said he was acting “for all aggrieved cocoa farmers across the length and breadth of the country.”
While commending President Mahama for what he described as “hard work” and “servant leadership,” the group said the same could not be said of his appointee at COCOBOD.
“Very unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the work of your appointee at the Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Randy Abbey,” the letter noted.
The petition praised President Mahama for improving economic indicators and lowering the cost of living.
“The results of the best economic indicators so far and the low cost of living… are a testament to your quality of service to Ghana,” it said.
However, GGAGG accused Dr. Abbey of lacking commitment to the role entrusted to him.
“Unlike you, Dr. Randy Abbey does not have good intentions for the onerous role you kindly bestowed on him,” the petition alleged.
According to the group, the current management of COCOBOD under Dr. Abbey has been plagued by several challenges.
“Dr. Randy Abbey’s COCOBOD management has been characterized by poor leadership choices; incompetence, arrogance, intimidation tactics, misaligned and or misplaced priorities, financial mismanagement, questionable renovations, resistance to change, undermining initiatives, and blocking operational improvements,” the petition stated.
The group said these issues have negatively affected the cocoa sector and the welfare of farmers.
GGAGG, which operates from East Legon in Accra, called on the President to act swiftly in the interest of the industry and the country.
“This nation-saving petition” is aimed at protecting Ghana’s cocoa sector, the letter emphasized.
