The Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Stephen K. Opuni, has been sacked by President Nana Addo Dankwa-Akufo Addo.
A dismissal letter dated January 12, 2013 from the presidency and signed by Nana Bediatuo Asante, Secretary to the President, directed Dr Opuni to leave office and hand over by close of day January 13, 2017
“In view of the urgency attached to this matter, please ensure that you hand over and cease to act as Chief Executive of Ghana COCOBOD not later than today 5pm on January 13, 2017,” the letter stated in part.
Dr Opuni is consequently to hand over to the president’s representative at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie and proceed to take all “benefits or facilities due you under relevant laws”.
The letter grounded the dismissal of Dr Opuni on the Presidential Transition Act, (ACT 845), stating he ceased to hold the office upon the assumption of office of President Akufo-Addo.
Dr Opuni was appointed CEO of COCOBOD by former president, John Mahama in November 2013 to succeed Mr Anthony Fofie who commenced his leave prior to the expiration of his contract at the end of 2013.
His administration was however, fraught with allegations of corruption over the years, which triggered calls for his dismissal.
Both the General Agricultural Workers Union and the Industrial Commercial Workers Union have accused Dr Opuni of corruption and condemned his leadership style, which they claimed, was affecting the cocoa sector.
“The orruption going on in the COCOBOD under Dr Stephen Opuni must be exposed as a matter of citizen responsibility. It is important not to personalise this issue, we don’t have any personal problem with Dr Stephen Opuni.
“In doing things that are not right, he has not respected the labour laws of this country. We have talked about that in our press conference held about a week ago” General Secretary if GAWU Kingsley Offei Nkansah said on April 29, 2016.
By Stephen Kwabena Effah|3news.com|Ghana
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