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A former Head of Public Affairs at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Flifi Boafo, has alleged that an internal power struggle at Cocoa House is crippling Ghana’s cocoa industry and disrupting critical operations.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on February 10, 2026, Boafo claimed that a prolonged standoff between COCOBOD Chief Executive Dr Randy Abbey and another senior official has created administrative paralysis, making it difficult for the institution to function effectively.
According to Boafo, the conflict began after Dr Abbey, acting within his mandate, reshuffled several directors following his appointment by the President.
“One unfortunate development at Cocoa Board, which I have been reliably informed about and which cannot be denied, is this needless turf war at Cocoa House. It shouldn’t be happening, and I’m shocked that it is,” he stated.
Boafo explained that Dr Abbey reassigned the then Managing Director of the Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC) to a less influential role and promoted a deputy to head the company—an appointment he believes was based purely on competence and industry experience.
“The person Dr Abbey promoted understands cocoa trading inside out. He has spent his entire life in the cocoa business, and I have no doubts about his capability,” Boafo added.
However, the situation reportedly escalated when another official allegedly appeared at Cocoa House with a presidential green letter appointing him to the same Managing Director position.
“One morning, a convoy of Land Cruisers drove into Cocoa House, and a gentleman announced that he had a green letter from the President appointing him as Managing Director of Cocoa Marketing Company,” Boafo alleged.
He said the new appointee immediately challenged Dr Abbey’s authority, triggering a fierce internal rivalry.
“Instead of focusing on marketing cocoa, he came in declaring, ‘I’m the new sheriff in town. Who is Randy Abbey?’ That was when the turf war began,” he claimed.
Boafo further alleged that the two officials have since refused to cooperate, resulting in persistent operational breakdowns.
“Randy says A, the other says B. There is no engagement, no collaboration, and no willingness to work together. This situation has dragged on since the appointment,” he said.
The former COCOBOD official warned that the conflict is directly affecting cocoa sales, pricing, and payments to farmers, noting that the Cocoa Marketing Company plays a central role in implementing decisions of the Sales Executive Committee, which is chaired by the COCOBOD Chief Executive.
“That committee is one of the most important at Cocoa House. If it gets things wrong, the entire cocoa industry suffers,” Boafo explained.
He linked the internal discord to falling cocoa prices, unsold stock, and mounting debt within the sector.
“Now prices have dropped to GH¢4,000. Cocoa is not being sold. There is about GH¢11 billion in debt owed by old licence-buying companies, and nearly 300,000 metric tonnes of cocoa meant for farmers are stuck,” he concluded.
