The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has reacted to allegations of nepotism, corruption and money laundering pressed against it in the Agri-Plus deal.
According to a Press Statement dated, Tuesday, November 17, 2020, signed and issued by the Head of Public Affairs, Mr Fiifi Boaf and copied to the Spice News, the allegations were unfounded.
Some documents alleged to be from the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) which were reportedly sent to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), on the matter have been released on social media.
It is said to be findings after investigations into contracts awarded to a newly formed company, Agri-Plus Horizon Farm Limited.
It alleges that FIC’s investigations revealed that Agri-Plus Horizon Farm Limited was awarded a contract for the supply of 75,000 litres of Transform Akate Insecticide at a price of US$103.5 per litre amounting to a total of US$7,762,500.00.
The contract was said to be a sole-sourced one to the Company through the Public Procurement Authority (PPA).
Agri-Plus Horizon Farm Limited is said to have also sub-contracted the contract at US$80.80357 to Aedis Holding Limited (AEDIS), a company reportedly owned by one Joseph Seth Aidoo Jnr.
There are allegations that Joseph Seth Aidoo Jnr is the son of the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo.
AEDIS is also said to have further sub-contracted Dow Agrosciences Limited (DOW) Limited, a company based in the UK to supply the said insecticide.
It is against this backdrop that the COCOBOD has reacted to the allegations.
Story: Seth Ameyaw Danquah
