COCOBOD paid me GHC3000, but cheque bounced – Kwadwo Poku claims

It has emerged that the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) was too broke in 2016 to the extent that, it could not pay a paltry GHC3,000 it owed one of its service providers.

Upon persistent demands for the money, COCOBOD allegedly gave a cheque for GHc3,000 to clear the debt but it was bounced, the Executive Director of FKP & Rald Investment Ltd, Mr. Kwadwo Poku, made the revelation on TV3’s New Day on Saturday.

“I am giving you a firsthand information,” he said, adding that the company COCOBOD allegedly gave the dud cheque to was his own, but did not state if it was FKP & Rald Investment Ltd.

He did not also specify the kind of service his company provided COCOBOD.

COCOBOD is responsible for the production, research, extension, internal and external marketing and quality control of cocoa produced in the country.

“COCOBOD money comes in when the season starts, OK, when the season opened in September; September, October, November, in November my cheque of 3000 Ghana cedis bounced in 2016.

“Why, because they say there is no money,” he said to the amazement of his host and other panel members.

Mr. Kwadwo Poku was commenting on the 27 charges bothering on financial malfeasance leveled against the former Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Dr. Kwabena Opuni by the state.

“I have a company that works with COCOBOD…I am not surprised of these allegations that have been put forth.

He criticised the management style of Dr. Puni, whom he said put fears in the persons he worked with, noting “if the check and balances were there these alleged malpractices wouldn’t have happened”.