Hackman Fires COCOBOD Workers

The Board Chairman of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, has said the agitations by staff  for his removal is largely because he has been very strong on reforming the the state-owned cocoa firm.

According to him, the workers who are opposing his transformational agenda due to their desire not change their attitudes want him removed.

During the May Day celebrations in Kumasi, a section of COCOBOD workers wielded placards calling for the Board Chair’s removal.

They accused Mr Owusu-Agyeman of usurping the authority of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Joseph Boahen Aidoo. Besides, the workers say Mr Owusu-Agyeman does not listen to their concerns and does not have their interest at heart.

But in a reaction to the various allegations against him, Mr Owusu-Agyeman told Accra-based Citi FM that COCOBOD workers have been “spoilt” in the past years, which according to him, explains for the reason why the firm is in crisis.

“This is part of an entrenched mindset of the people who have worked with COCOBOD and I think COCOBOD is in crisis.

“There is a debt overhung of GHS1.9billion and normally when a business goes into such level of crisis, it either folds up or cuts the number of staff dramatically so that it can survive… But we are not cutting off anybody.

“We are trying to ask them to be more efficient because they have been spoilt over the years.

“These COCOBOD officers believe the world belongs to them. I believe sincerely the farmers who toil and sweat, if there is any benefit, must come to them.”

Source: Kasapafm