Hot SourceAllies of Bryan Acheampong have issued a forceful rebuttal to comments by former COCOBOD chief executive Joseph Boahen Aidoo, accusing him of distorting the record on Ghana’s cocoa syndication reform.
In a statement released on 24 September, the Bryan Acheampong Communications Directorate said Mr Aidoo’s suggestion that the agriculture minister secretly pushed the policy through Cabinet was “illogical” and contradicted documented facts.
“If he indeed spearheaded the initiative, it is illogical to suggest he was unaware of its formal submission or public rollout,” the statement read. “This contradiction undermines the credibility of his narrative and appears to be an attempt to diminish what should be a shared achievement of the NPP.”
The Directorate outlined that Bryan Acheampong, as Minister for Food and Agriculture, formally presented the Cabinet memo that recommended cancelling Ghana’s long-standing offshore syndicated cocoa loans. Under his leadership, the statement added, the producer price of cocoa rose 278 per cent from GHC800 in 2022 to GHC3,100 in 2024 delivering what it called “an unprecedented uplift” for farmers.
The rebuttal also rejected claims that Acheampong “vehemently opposed” the reform, insisting he led Cabinet engagement and implementation. It argued that Ghana’s constitutional framework gives sector ministers the authority to craft and execute policy, comparing the cocoa initiative to other flagship programmes such as Free SHS and One District One Factory, where credit is attributed to the responsible minister.
The communication posed a pointed question to Mr Aidoo, who headed COCOBOD for eight 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?”
While the statement emphasised that ultimate responsibility for government policy rests with the president, it maintained that Bryan Acheampong’s leadership was “pragmatic and visionary”, citing COCOBOD’s own announcement of more than $4 billion in deposits from international buyers as proof of success.
The Directorate closed by urging members of the governing New Patriotic Party to focus on unity ahead of next year’s elections, describing the cocoa syndication reform as a “collective victory for the NPP and for Ghana.”
Read the attached statement in full below:
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.
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.
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 rest 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 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
The post Bryan Acheampong’s camp hits back at Boahen Aidoo over cocoa syndication claims appeared first on The Herald ghana.
