CHRAJ clears COCOBOD CEO

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has dismissed a complaint filed against the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Ransford Anertey Abbey, alleging a failure on his part to declare his assets and liabilities.

The commission, in a decision dated Thursday, March 12, 2026, described the allegations as "wholly lacking merit" after investigations proved that the COCOBOD boss had fully complied with the constitutional requirements for public office holders.

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The case was initiated by Wilberforce Asare, a journalist, who alleged that Dr Abbey had breached Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution.

Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution mandates a person holding public office to submit a written declaration to the Auditor-General of all property or assets owned, and liabilities owed, whether directly or indirectly with the timing of submission being within three months of the Constitution coming into force or before taking office, at the end of every four years, and at the end of the officer's term of office.

Wilberforce Asare claimed that while Dr Abbey had declared his assets in a previous role as a policy advisor, he had failed to do so in his current capacity as the CEO of COCOBOD.

However, CHRAJ’s investigations, made available to GhanaWeb, showed that Dr Abbey was appointed as Acting CEO on January 21, 2025, and submitted his declaration forms on March 24, 2025, well within the mandatory three-month window.

The commission further clarified that a discrepancy in the Auditor-General’s records, which listed the respondent as a "Policy Advisor," was an administrative error on the part of the Audit Service and not the fault of Dr Abbey.

In its final determination, the commission stated, “It is quite obvious from the preponderance of the probabilities that the Respondent declared his assets and liabilities in his position as Chief Executive Officer and not as Policy Advisor to the Vice President."

Regarding the accuracy of the records, the commission noted saying, “The Commission is of the considered view that the description by the Audit Service of the Respondent as 'Policy Advisor to the Vice-President' instead of the position declared by Respondent himself on the Declaration Form and the subsequent reliance on same by the Complainant, as erroneous, misconceived and should be deprecated."

The ruling, signed by the CHRAJ Commissioner, Dr Joseph Whittal, therefore, proceeded to dismiss the petition, clearing Dr Abbey.

"Having found that the Respondent has complied with the Assets Declaration Regime under both Article 286 of the Constitution and Section 7 of Act 550... the Commission is of the considered view that the allegation brought against the Respondent wholly lacks merit and same is accordingly dismissed,” it ruled.

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice further lauded Dr Abbey for adhering to the directive of asset declaration and submitting his within the stipulated time.

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"The Commission commends the Respondent for the timely submission of his Completed Assets Declaration Form to the Auditor-General and thus complying with the constitutional and statutory obligations on the specified Public Officers,” it added.

Meanwhile, Dr Abbey remains in his position as the Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board.

MAG/AE

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