Deputy Chief Executive (Finance & Administration) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Ato Boateng has strongly rejected claims of conflict of interest made against him by MP for Old Tafo Ekow Vincent Assafuah.
According to him the claims from the lawmaker are “much ado about nothing” and lack any substantive evidence of wrongdoing.
Mr. Assafuah in a petition dated February 25, 2026 submitted to the Commission for Human Rights and Adminstrative Justice, CHRAJ, called for Mr. Boateng to step aside due to his former role as CEO of Atlas Commodities Limited. However, some analysts have argued the claims are based on “speculative leaps” rather than factual regulatory breaches.
The core of the rebuttal addresses the “baseless nature” of the allegations regarding Mr. Boateng’s professional history. Key points raised include:
No Current Ownership: The petition does not demonstrate that Mr. Boateng currently holds any shares in Atlas Commodities Limited.
Absence of Control: There is no evidence that he exercises executive control or decision-making power over the private company while serving in his official capacity at COCOBOD.
No Policy Interference: The rebuttal notes that the petition fails to show Mr. Boateng has participated in any official COCOBOD decisions that specifically benefit Atlas Commodities.
Financial Integrity: No instances of financial benefit accruing to Mr. Boateng from the operations of his former employer have been cited.
While the original petition cited Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution regarding the conduct of public officers, the rebuttal argues this is a fundamental misinterpretation of the law.
The response clarifies that a legal conflict of interest requires a “real and present” personal interest, whereas the petition relies solely on past employment. It further asserts that “professional history is not a crime,” noting that disqualifying individuals based on prior sector experience would deprive the public service of essential expertise.
”To suggest that a person’s professional background constitutes a conflict of interest is to suggest that the public service should be devoid of industry experts. This is not only illogical but a disservice to the state.”
The rebuttal also hits back at claims that Mr. Boateng attempted to interfere with records at the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) on February 20, 2026. It labels these claims a “distortion of facts,” arguing it is illogical to suggest an “abuse of office” at COCOBOD based on alleged actions at an entirely separate institution where Mr. Boateng holds no authority.
The statement concludes that the move to block the appointment is an attempt to stall a qualified candidate based on conjecture rather than a genuine pursuit of transparency. It urges the Governing Board of COCOBOD and the general public to dismiss the petition due to its lack of proof regarding any current regulatory or constitutional breaches.
Source: Accrafmonline.com
