The debate over who truly birthed and championed the new cocoa financing module reverberated today on Adom FM, sparking sharp exchanges between former Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, and former Minister for Agriculture, Dr Bryan Acheampong.
On Tuesday morning, the controversy played out live on Adom FM’s flagship programme Dwaso Nsem, hosted by veteran broadcaster Omanhene Kwabena Asante, when both men clashed over ownership of the policy that replaced Ghana’s decades-old offshore syndicated loan arrangement.
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Aidoo Claims Intellectual Ownership
Aidoo, who led COCOBOD between 2017 and 2024, maintained that the financing module was his brainchild—conceived, drafted, and refined through wide consultations. He argued that the syndicated loan system placed a heavy financial burden on Ghana, with hidden costs beyond the 10% headline interest, including commitment fees and expensive annual negotiations abroad.
“I dreamt about it, drafted it, but as a geographer and not an economist, I consulted widely, including Prof Baah Boateng of the Department of Economics at the University of Ghana. Together, we reshaped the idea before it was introduced for implementation,” he said.
The former CEO stressed that the module was his “intellectual property,” warning that it was unacceptable for anyone to “steal” his idea without acknowledgment.
“In academia, stealing someone’s idea is a big crime. I can’t sit quietly for Bryan to take credit for something he opposed from day one,” Aidoo insisted.
According to him, Dr Acheampong flatly rejected the proposal when it was first presented, forcing him to seek intervention from higher authorities before it was approved.
“He did not play any role. He rather opposed it. Even when the matter went before higher authorities, he still objected. That is why I am shocked to hear him claim ownership today,” Aidoo emphasised.
He recalled making several stakeholder presentations on the new module, earning praise for the innovative idea despite his non-finance background. “It came to me as a vision from God because I am a geographer, not a finance person. Bryan was totally against it,” he added.
Acheampong Pushes Back
Dr Bryan Acheampong, who took charge of the agriculture ministry in 2023, rejected Aidoo’s claims outright. He argued that as sector minister, the ultimate responsibility and authority rested with him.
“Joseph Boahen Aidoo was my subordinate. He couldn’t have introduced this policy to Cabinet. I did. And if it had failed, I would have borne the blame. So what crime have I committed if I also take the glory?” Bryan asked.
He further suggested that Aidoo’s camp was motivated by politics, citing critical social media posts by Aidoo’s son and comments from NPP MP Michael Aidoo, a known supporter of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
When host Omanhene cited a Daily Graphic report from Aidoo’s tenure announcing the first suspension of the syndicated loan, Bryan dismissed it, arguing that no final decision had been made at the time. “As Parliament and stakeholders were raising concerns about financing cocoa purchases, COCOBOD only gave assurances that syndication was still being pursued,” he said.
A Clash Without Resolution
Aidoo countered, saying, “Only God knows what I went through in Bryan Acheampong’s hands before this policy saw the light of day,” and dared the minister to publicly explain the technical workings of the new financing module. Bryan, however, sidestepped, maintaining that the central issue was his role as minister, not the technical details.
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The fiery exchange has left the public divided, with one lingering question: who truly deserves the credit for freeing Ghana from decades of costly cocoa syndication loans—the visionary technocrat who conceived the idea, or the minister who secured Cabinet approval?
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