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Two staff employees of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) whose names appeared on a statement issued by some concerned workers of the company have denied knowledge of the said release which had their names as signatories.

The statement, issued on Sunday, January 19, 2025, and published in the media the following day, Monday, January 20, contained the name of two COCOBOD staffs, Samuel Aviah and Oppong Banahene Frimpong, as members of the concerned group who appended the document.

However, the two have denied knowledge of the release which was kicking against the potential appointment of Dr. Randy Abbey as Chief Executive of the Ghana COCOBOD.

According to the said statement, a group calling itself Concerned Members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at COCOBOD, had said it received an intel that President John Dramani Mahama was going to name Dr. Abbey as CEO on Monday, January 20, 2025.

But according to the statement issued by the supposed group, Dr. Abbey, not being a technocrat, lacked the wherewithal to lead a sector as critical as COCOBOD, and wished that the President rescinded his appointment if it was true.

However, Mr. Aviah and Oppong Banahene, who were supposedly signatories to the release, have come out to deny, saying they have no hand in the said publication.

“I don’t know anything about it. The signature is forged. That’s not my signature. The telephone number there is not my number. I don’t know where that statement came from. I have not authored any statement, neither have I been told by anyone that they are issuing a statement on my behalf or on behalf of any group. The supposed group exist in our company but I am not even their member. If you ask those who are part of the group, they will tell you that I am not one of them. Some people at our workplace might have done that and put my name there and forged a signature. I called the other guy whose name is there and asked him and he said he doesn’t know anything about it either.

“When I became aware of this false publication on the morning of Monday, 20th January 2025, I took immediate actions to contact the Media Houses and demanded the removal of the story from their platforms. To their credit, they promptly pulled down the story from all platforms where it had appeared under their control.

“However, I subsequently became aware of the story being lingering on other platforms. I swiftly reached out to those involved and ensured that the false information was also removed. I remain committed to pursuing any further actions necessary to protect my reputation and ensure the truth is upheld. I am currently consulting my legal advisors to determine the appropriate steps to address this forgery and protect my name from further defamation,” one of the victims, Aviah, told OnuaOnline.

Dr. Randy Abbey, has, meanwhile, been named by President Mahama as the Acting Chief Executive of COCOBOD. This was contained in a letter from the Secretary to the President, Callistus Mahama on Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

“I write to formally inform you that His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana in accordance with Article 195(1) of the Constitution and Section 12(2) of the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 1984 (P.N.D.C.L 81) has appointed you as the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board pending receipt of the Constitutionally required advice of the Board of Ghana Cocoa Board, in consultation with the Public Services Commission,” the letter said.

This followed the resignation of the former CEO, Joseph Boahen Aidoo which was announced earlier this month.

We will shakeup Management of COCOBOD when we come – Mahama assures cocoa farmers