President Mahama Petitioned to Dismiss COCOBOD CEO Randy Abbey

President John Dramani Mahama has been petitioned to remove the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Randy Abbey, from office over allegations of poor leadership and incompetence.

The petition, submitted by the Good Governance Advocacy Group, Ghana, accuses the COCOBOD boss, Randy Abbey of gross incompetence, arrogance and intimidation, and urges the President to take immediate action.

In the petition dated February 9, 2026, the group first commended President Mahama for his leadership and economic management before raising concerns about Dr Abbey’s performance.

“Mr President, before touching on the grounds for this nation-saving petition, I wish to warmly commend you on your hard work, servant leadership, and focus on solutions, even though you met a worse economy bequeathed to you by your highly ineffectual predecessors. I must also be quick to add that the results of the best economic indicators so far and the low cost of living for both Ghanaians and foreign residents in Ghana are a testament to your quality of service to Ghana, our motherland,” the petition stated.

However, the group argued that similar praise could not be extended to the COCOBOD CEO.

“However, Your Excellency, very unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the work of your appointee at the Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Randy Abbey. Mr President, it is sad to officially report to you that, unlike you, Dr Randy Abbey does not have good intentions for the onerous role you kindly bestowed on him,” the petition read in part.

The group further accused Dr Abbey’s administration of mismanaging the affairs of the cocoa sector.
“Your Excellency, unfortunately, Dr Randy Abbey’s COCOBOD management has been characterised by poor leadership choices, incompetence, arrogance, intimidation tactics, misaligned or misplaced priorities, financial mismanagement, questionable renovations, resistance to change, undermining initiatives, and blocking operational improvements, to say the least,” it added.

The advocacy group is therefore calling on President Mahama to relieve Dr Abbey of his position with immediate effect.

The petition comes at a time when COCOBOD is reportedly struggling to settle arrears owed to cocoa farmers, a situation that has left many farmers frustrated across various cocoa-growing communities.