News & Events

21th February, 2013
COCOBOD REACTS TO ALLEGATIONS OF MALPRACTICES

Our attention has been drawn to a publication by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) which was carried by several newspapers purporting that there are irregularities taking place at the Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC), a subsidiary of COCOBOD.

The publication is full of inaccuracies and Management wish to react as follows:

• The operations of Unicontrol involve receipt, storage and loading of raw cocoa beans for export on behalf of CMC. When cocoa arrives at the take-over centres, it is weighed in the presence of staff of CMC, Quality Control Company Ltd (QCCL) and Unicontrol before being sent into storage. Before shipment, the cocoa is weighed again in the presence of representatives of the above-mentioned companies, the foreign buying company as well as an agent of the shipping company.

At the end of the season, reconciliation is done to ascertain whether the quantity of cocoa delivered to the company tallies with the quantity exported. Unicontrol Company has never declared any losses in its operations.

All thefts alleged at the port however, have been thoroughly investigated by Management and staff found culpable sanctioned. Not long ago, 37 staff at the Takoradi Port were sacked for pilfering.

• The publication also alleged an illegal abrogation of insurance contract with SIC. The trade required that commodity insurance be undertaken by companies rated A-plus. None of the local companies satisfied this requirement at the time and that was why an international company had to come in. As per the requirement however, the company that won the contract had to sub-let part to a local company which Ghana Life Insurance Company (GLICO) won.

• The alleged malfeasance regarding the renovation of the CMC MD's bungalow was reported to the SFO who investigated the issue and cleared Management of any wrongdoing.

• Our policy on payment of emoluments to personnel working abroad (London office) is guided by the government's policy on Foreign Service.

• Local processing companies make formal requests to the CMC specifying quantities of cocoa they want to buy. Loading of the cocoa is then done in presence of staff of the buying company, CMC, QCCL and the transporter. On arrival at the premises of the local buyer, the quantities are ascertained again to make sure there are no discrepancies in the quantity and quality of the produce delivered.

We wish to add that, CMC Management, working in line with COCOBOD's policy on employees, cherishes its staff and would not use denial of promotion, transfers and threat of dismissal to jeopardize the future of its employees.
COCOBOD is doing everything possible to ensure that the cocoa sector is sustained to benefit all players, including staff.

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