Clarifying the Record: Response to Mr. Boahen Aidoo’s Commentary on the Cocoa Syndication Reform
We have taken note of the recent remarks made by Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, former Chief
Executive Officer of COCOBOD, regarding the cocoa syndication policy and the role of Dr. Bryan
Acheampong. While robust debate is welcome in any democratic setting, it must be grounded
in truth, consistency, and respect for institutional roles and processes.
Dr. Bryan Acheampong remains fully focused on his presidential campaign and has consistently
urged his team and supporters to prioritize unity, discipline, and the shared aspirations of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
His campaign is anchored in transparency, bold ideas, inclusive leadership, and a results-driven vision for Ghana, not personal attacks or revisionist narratives.
The facts surrounding the cocoa syndication reform are clear, documented, and verifiable:
- As Minister for Food and Agriculture, Dr. Bryan Acheampong formally presented the
Cabinet memo recommending the cancellation of the syndicated cocoa loan to the
President.
- He publicly led this policy shift, marking a decisive break from Ghana’s 32-year reliance
on offshore syndicated loans.
- Under his leadership, the producer price of cocoa was increased by 278%, from
GH¢800 in 2022 to GH¢3,100 in 2024—an unprecedented uplift that directly benefited
Ghanaian farmers.
Dr. Bryan Acheampong
Mr. Aidoo’s claim that he is “now hearing that Bryan clandestinely presented the idea to
Cabinet” raises serious questions about his own awareness and involvement in a policy he
simultaneously claims to have authored. If he indeed spearheaded the initiative, it is illogical to
suggest he was unaware of its formal submission or public rollout. This contradiction
undermines the credibility of his narrative and appears to be an unfortunate attempt to
undermine and diminish what should be a shared achievement of the NPP.
BRYAN ACHEAMPONG PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OFFICE
Furthermore, the allegation that Dr. Acheampong “vehemently opposed” the policy is
demonstrably false. His actions, leading Cabinet engagement and overseeing its
implementation, are not those of a saboteur.
They reflect the hallmarks of ministerial
leadership, strategic clarity, and public accountability.It must be emphasized that in Ghana’s governance architecture, the process of policy
formulation and implementation sits squarely with the Minister responsible for the sector. This
is not merely convention but a constitutional and administrative fact. The authority to initiate,
shape, and execute policy within their portfolios sits with the respective Ministers.
The comparison is clear and instructive: the credit for Free SHS rightly belongs to the Minister of
Education, not the Director General of the Ghana Education Service. The credit for One District
One Factory is credited to the Minister of Trade and Industry, not to the implementing agencies.
Likewise, Ghana’s digital transformation is attributed to the Minister of Communications, not
the Director General of the National Communications Authority.
While various institutions and technical teams may contribute behind the scenes, it is the sector Minister who bears the mandate to lead, implement, and publicly defend the policy.
This principle is consistent across government. Ministers are the political heads of their sectors,
entrusted with the responsibility to translate presidential vision into actionable policy.
However, it must also be emphasized that the ultimate responsibility for every major policy rests
with the President.
It is the President who sets the national agenda, approves Cabinet decisions,
and empowers Ministers to act. The President is the architect of the government’s vision;
Ministers are the builders who bring that vision to life.In the same vein, Dr. Bryan Acheampong, as Minister for Food and Agriculture, exercised his
mandate to lead the cocoa syndication reform. His model, requiring international buyers to
make upfront payments for cocoa, was not only pragmatic but visionary. It repositioned Ghana’s
cocoa sector on a path of financial independence and market leverage. COCOBOD’s own
BRYAN ACHEAMPONG PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN OFFICE
announcement of over $4 billion in deposits from international buyers is a resounding
vindication of this approach.
Mr. Boahen Aidoo was CEO of COCOBOD for 8 years from 2017. Why was the syndication not
stopped in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023? Is it sheer coincidence that it was
implemented only when Dr. Bryan Acheampong became Minister?
As we look ahead, it is vital that we focus on what unites us as a party and as a nation. The cocoa
syndication reform is a landmark achievement of the Akufo-Addo administration. Dr. Bryan
Acheampong, as Minister, led its policy articulation and implementation. Credit must be
accorded where it is due, but more importantly, the success of this reform should be celebrated
as a collective victory for the NPP and for Ghana.
Signed,
Bryan Acheampong Communications Directorate
September 24, 2025
