No wrong done in renovating guest house – Former COCOBOD Chair

Former Board Chairman of the Ghana Cocoa Board(COCOBOD) Mr Daniel Ohene Agyekum has justified the renovation works carried on the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG)guest house in Bole in the Northern Region.

Fiifi Boafo, Special Aide to the COCOBOD Chief Executive, has revealed that a whopping GHc 5 million was spent by the Mahama government, not only to refurbish the guest house at Bole, but also construct additional facilities.

This followed the office of John Mahama refuting claims that the former President influenced the construction of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana Research Station Guest House in his hometown of Bole, in the Northern Region with COCBOD funds, for his personal enjoyment.

A statement signed by his aide, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, clarified that the guest house has been in existence since 1975, and as a guest house, it provides accommodation services to officials of COCOBOD and others.

Mr. Boafo questioned if the past government would describe the renovation at a cost of GHc 5 million as prudent.

“Is she [Joyce Bawa Mogtari] telling us that GHc5 million was used to refurbish an old building? Does she call that prudent use of cocoa money?”

“Are they telling us that putting up that facility with Jacuzzis in Bole was prudent use of the cocoa farmers’ money,” he questioned further.

But speaking to Kasapa News, Mr Ohene Agyekum who could not confirm the amount spent on the renovation work, however defended the repair works done on the facility, after the Board received a request for support from management of CRIG.

He emphasized that the Board ensured that it went through all the necessary processes in accordance with the law before the renovation works were carried out.

“We did no wrong in spending on the renovation of that guest house. We were diligent in whatever we did, we went through all the relevant processes including the Public Procurement Authority on the recommendation of the technical staff of CRIG. The Board was informed that the building required extensive renovation which included extending the executive wing.

“Are they saying there was no sense in expanding the facility when we didn’t buy a new land for this project. I hear it’s being said we build a guest house for ex President John Mahama, what nonsense is this! His house in Bole is more magnificent than this building we’re talking about,” Ohene Agyekum fumed.