Hackman denies buying Land Cruiser

Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, has denied ordering a brand new 2017 V8 Toyota Land Cruiser for his use as the Board Chairman of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), as alleged by some staff of the institution.

He revealed that, a V8 Toyota Land Cruiser assigned him for his field trips, was rather purchased by the previous administration headed by the former Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni in 2016, however, he is yet to use the said vehicle.

Independent checks by The Herald revealed that the said car is currently parked at the East Legon home of the board chairman. He would be the first person to use it.

Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, who spoke to The Herald via phone last Friday over the publication, disclosed that the car given him, was part of a fleet of 12 V8 Toyota Land Cruisers purchased by the former management for COCOBOD last year, hence he has no reason to order a new car.

He insisted that, some mischievous elements at COCOBOD, were behind the allegation that he ordered a fresh2017 V8 Toyota Land Cruiser to be bought for him, after taken over from Daniel Ohene Agyekum as Board Chairman.

These elements, he suggested, are resisting the reforms that he and the new management are bringing to the institution.

The Herald is informed that, the Akufo-Addo government, is currently drafting legislation to formally put the COCOBOD under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

It used to be under the Ministry of the Finance, until the advent of the Akufo-Addo regime.

The change, will also lead to the board chairman of the COCOBOD, becoming an executive board chairman and having a day-to-day administrative role to play at the institution.

Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, insisted he had no reason to order a fresh vehicle when there are some available to be used, adding at his age and experience, he knows what is right.

In a telephone interview, the Public Affairs Manager of the CCOBOD, Noah Amenyah, confirmed that no new car has been bought for the board chairman, adding he was only assigned one of those bought last year.

Meanwhile, the Public Affairs Department, has in a rejoinder sent to this newspaper said “we wish to state for public records that COCOBOD has NOT PURCHASED, neither has the Board initiated any procurement process to purchase new vehicles for 2017”.

Below is the full text of the rejoinder sent to The Herald last Friday, by the Public Affairs Department of COCOBOD.

REJOINDER: COCOBOD DISRESPECTS AKUFO-ADDO’S BAN ON NEW CARS

The Herald Newspaper publication of Friday 5th May, 2017 on the above-mentioned subject sort to highlight rumours circulating on social media alleging that management has purchased a brand new 2017 V8 Toyota Land Cruiser for the Board Chairman, Hon. Hackman Owusu-Agyemang.

We wish to state that the allegations are untrue and lack substance.

The publication is a total deviation from what currently pertains at COCOBOD. It is not only complete a fabrication, but a calculated attempt by individuals or groups opposed to the development of the cocoa industry to divert our focus and create tension among actors on the cocoa value chain.

We wish to state for public records that COCOBOD has NOT PURCHASED, neither has the Board initiated any procurement process to purchase new vehicles for 2017.

We therefore appeal to your newspaper to crosscheck the authenticity of issues relating to the operations of COCOBOD before publication.