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