Dr. Kofi Koduah Sarpong, a renowned advocate for policy reforms, has urged the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) to refocus on its core mandate of cocoa trading, rather than diverting resources into road construction.
Speaking at the National Economic Dialogue, Dr. Sarpong emphasized the need for COCOBOD to streamline its operations and prioritize its core business.
“COCOBOD is also not focused on its core business and has inefficient procurement practices just like ECG,” he noted.
Dr. Sarpong stressed that COCOBOD’s involvement in road construction is a deviation from its primary mandate.
“To the government, we suggest the following. We should have a holistic and coordinated plan to stop galamsey and improve cocoa and food production as well. This is a major issue for the government to deal with,” he said.
He further emphasized that COCOBOD should concentrate solely on cocoa trading. “COCOBOD should focus on its core business of buying and selling cocoa. In effect, it has no business in doing roads. We think that it must stop. The Department of Feeder Roads is there, and arrangements can be made for them to look at Cocoa Roads,” Dr. Sarpong stated.
Dr. Sarpong also shared his past experience working with COCOBOD. “In the past, when some of us were there, we were never constructing roads. We were only helping by giving funds to Feeder Roads to do the work,” he recalled.
Dr. Sarpong’s remarks underscore the need for policy reforms and improved governance in Ghana’s public institutions. By refocusing on its core mandate, COCOBOD can optimize its operations and contribute more effectively to the country’s economic development.