“Why Is Randy Still COCOBOD Boss?” — Hawk Newspaper Editor Slams Gov’t Over Cocoa Crisis

Charles McCarthy, Managing Editor of the Hawk Newspaper, has on Kessben Maakye today, criticised government for what he describes as prolonged silence over the financial and structural challenges facing the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).

According to him, authorities took far too long to disclose the difficulties confronting the cocoa sector, allowing the situation to deteriorate before informing the public.

He also questioned the circumstances surrounding the leadership of COCOBOD’s Chief Executive Randy Abbey, suggesting the situation raises serious concerns.

“Randy is too smart to have allowed himself to reach this point. Who exactly was he trying to cover?” he asked.

Mr. McCarthy further criticised the Board’s policy direction, arguing that cocoa beneficiary infrastructure is largely concentrated in major cities rather than in farming communities, a situation he believes disadvantages cocoa farmers who form the backbone of the industry.

He additionally referenced historical investments by Kwame Nkrumah, stating that many of the foundational cocoa sector initiatives established during the first republic remain underutilised decades later.

The editor also questioned President John Dramani Mahama over the continued appointment of Mr. Abbey as COCOBOD CEO, wondering what confidence the President still has in him despite the ongoing controversy.

He ended by asking whether Mr. Abbey’s continued stay in office could be linked to his membership to the *”coffee shop”*, insisting that transparency and accountability must guide decisions in managing Ghana’s most strategic agricultural sector.