GHANA – Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has officially resigned following a government directive for the cessation of boards of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs).
In his resignation letter addressed to President John Dramani Mahama, Aidoo expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, and Ghanaians during his eight-year tenure.
He described his leadership role as an “incredible honour” and cited the government directive as the primary reason for his decision to step down.
Although his appointment was renewed by former President Akufo-Addo under the COCOBOD Law, 1984 (PNDCL 81), and was set to expire in July 2025, Aidoo explained that his resignation would facilitate a smooth transition and enable stakeholders and business partners to establish timely connections with the incoming leadership.
Reflecting on his tenure, Aidoo reaffirmed his commitment to supporting the current government and pledged to assist with the transition process. He also expressed his ongoing dedication to Ghana’s cocoa sector.
Aidoo’s time at COCOBOD was marked by both praise and criticism.
In February 2024, the United Voices for Change (U.V.C.) called for his dismissal, accusing COCOBOD leadership of mismanagement and the alleged importation of cocoa beans from neighboring countries.
Similarly, the Minority in Parliament demanded his resignation in September 2023, citing significant financial losses and a decline in cocoa production.
On the other hand, Aidoo received strong support from the Best Cocoa Farmers Association (BeCoFA) of the Western-South Region.
In May 2024, the association described him as a “hardworking, committed, and dedicated servant of cocoa farmers” and urged the government to disregard allegations of mismanagement.
During Aidoo’s tenure, Ghana faced challenges in its cocoa sector. In December 2024, cocoa prices declined due to delayed payments from the state marketing board and limited financing for exporters, farmers, and buyers.
However, global cocoa prices reached record highs over the past year, driven by poor harvests in Ivory Coast and Ghana.
To address smuggling and support farmer incomes, Ghana raised the fixed farmgate price by nearly 45 percent to 48,000 cedis (approximately US$3,000) per metric ton for the 2024/25 season, which began in September.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.