Seven CPC staff interdicted over GH¢4.37 million audit findings

Seven staff members of Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) PLC have been interdicted following revelations in a special audit conducted by the Ghana Audit Service, which cited GH¢4,373,355.04 as outstanding and unaccounted for in relation to the operations of the CPC Consumer Cooperative Shop.

Sources close to the company’s staff unions revealed that the audit, which reviewed activities during the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 financial years and was completed in March 2026, uncovered significant irregularities involving products supplied to the union-operated consumer shop located within the company’s premises in Tema.

According to portions of the audit report, the Ghana Audit Service found that the consumer shop, operated by workers through their unions, had accumulated indebtedness to the company amounting to GH¢4,373,355.04 as of September 2025 for products supplied by CPC.

The report further noted that the shop allegedly operated rent-free on the company’s premises and did not pay for utilities during the period under review. Auditors cautioned that CPC’s financial position could be adversely affected if the receivables were not recovered promptly.

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The interdicted staff members include Theodore Matey Tackey, Chairman of the Senior Staff Union; Abdul-Samed Adams, Chairman of the Junior Staff Union; George Yanney, Principal Accounts Officer; Daniel Mensah, Shop Keeper; Genevieve Pawar, Product Research and Development Manager; James Ababio, Production Manager for Confectionery; and Michael Eshun, Chief Engineer.

Information available indicates that four of the affected individuals served on the Consumer Shop Management Committee, two acted as patrons, and one functioned as the shop keeper responsible for day-to-day operations.

Company sources say management acted swiftly after receiving the audit findings, issuing formal queries to the affected staff members and requesting explanations regarding the irregularities identified.

The staff were given the opportunity to respond before the interdictions were imposed, with some reportedly denying wrongdoing and disputing aspects of the findings.

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Documents sighted show that one interdiction letter, dated May 11, 2026, and signed by Managing Director Professor William Coffie, stated that management had reviewed the responses but believed there had been “no headway” in resolving the matter.

The letter added that further investigations were necessary to “arrive at a justifiable conclusion” while complying with the Ghana Audit Service’s recommendations for recovery of the outstanding amount.

As part of the interdiction directives, the affected officers were instructed not to make further withdrawals from the Consumer Shop’s bank accounts and to participate in a comprehensive stock-taking exercise to be conducted by the Audit and Accounts Departments under the supervision of the Security Coordinator.

The interdicted staff are also expected to submit handing-over notes to management while remaining on two-thirds salary pending the outcome of investigations and the final determination of the matter, in accordance with the company’s collective agreement.

In its recommendations, the Ghana Audit Service urged CPC to immediately recover the outstanding receivables from the union-operated shop and ensure that rent, water, and electricity charges are properly accounted for going forward.