Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Finance and Administration at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Ato Boateng, has expressed readiness to cooperate with any investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) following allegations of conflict of interest raised against him.
The concerns, linked to his previous association with Atlas Commodities Limited, were brought forward by the Minority in Parliament, led by Old Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah, who has called for a full criminal investigation into the company’s operations. The Minority alleges that Atlas Commodities has been operating from warehouses registered under the Produce Buying Company (PBC) without proper authorisation, raising questions about regulatory compliance.
However, in a response cited by Citi News and dated February 23, Mr Boateng dismissed the allegations as false and unfounded, outlining steps he took prior to assuming his current position at COCOBOD.
According to the statement, he resigned as a director of Atlas Commodities Limited on January 20, 2025, before his appointment to the COCOBOD Board. He further indicated that he transferred all his shares in the company to Edinam Yao Cofie and George Ofori, who currently hold them in trust.
Mr Boateng also stated that, in line with transparency requirements for public officials, he declared his previous interest in the company in his official assets and liabilities declaration submitted to the Auditor-General.
The statement additionally clarified the operational relationship between COCOBOD and PBC, noting that COCOBOD does not own shares in PBC and therefore has no role in the company’s management decisions. This, he argued, further distances the Board from the allegations relating to warehouse authorisations.
Mr Boateng reiterated his willingness to cooperate fully with any investigations, expressing confidence that the process would clear his name.
