 flagbearer aspirant, Bryan Acheampong, of “hypocritically” attempting to claim credit for the abolition of syndicated loans in cocoa financing.){kind=link}
Former Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, has accused former Minister of Agriculture and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirant, Bryan Acheampong, of “hypocritically” attempting to claim credit for the abolition of syndicated loans in cocoa financing.
In a viral video, Mr. Acheampong was seen telling NPP delegates that the self-financing model adopted by COCOBOD was his vision, insisting it had saved the country significant resources. His office later issued a rejoinder reinforcing his claims.
But in a strongly worded press statement, Mr. Aidoo dismissed those assertions as “blatant intellectual plagiarism and dishonesty,” stressing that the policy was conceived and executed under his leadership.
“Bryan cannot and must not arrogate to himself glory for something he did not believe in, did actually oppose it, and frantically wished it dead right from its birth,” the former CEO stated.
Mr. Aidoo further alleged that Mr. Acheampong had vehemently resisted the new self-financing model while serving as Agric Minister, just as he had, in Aidoo’s view, undermined the push for private commercial cocoa plantations after board approval.
He maintained that the policy to wean COCOBOD off syndicated loans was developed by his management team and endorsed at the highest levels of government.
“The decision to move COCOBOD away from Ghana’s 32-year dependence on syndicated loans did not emanate from Bryan Acheampong. The ‘no more offshore borrowing’ policy was my brainchild, championed by my team and the Board, with tremendous support from President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia,” Aidoo stressed.
He credited the “bold intervention” of President Akufo-Addo for ensuring the policy was implemented despite what he described as Acheampong’s strong opposition.
“But for the bold intervention of President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, this novelty legacy would not have seen the light of day. Yes, Bryan vehemently opposed it; Akufo-Addo and Bawumia supported it,” he concluded.