Vincent Ekow Assafuah is the MP for Old Tafo
The Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has raised concerns over reports that the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is preparing to pay GH¢12 million as World Cup support to the Ghana national football team.
In a Facebook post, the legislator questioned whether COCOBOD’s Board had indeed sanctioned the alleged payment. “Has the Board of COCOBOD approved and paid or about to pay GH¢12 million as World Cup support to the Black Stars?” he asked.
Assafuah argued that the reported expenditure appears inconsistent with the financial challenges the cocoa regulator has publicly acknowledged. According to him, COCOBOD has repeatedly indicated that it is heavily indebted, a situation that has led to stringent and painful decisions affecting cocoa farmers across the country.
“Yet, this same COCOBOD tells cocoa farmers it is deeply indebted, and on that basis, is taking stringent and painful decisions that directly affect the livelihoods of the very farmers who sustain the cocoa sector,” he stated.
The MP further questioned the timing of the alleged support, pointing to ongoing salary cuts within the cocoa sector.
“And implementing salary cuts at this same period?” he added, suggesting that the reported allocation raises concerns about the Board’s financial priorities.
