The return of an official vehicle previously assigned to former Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Joseph Boahen Aidoo, has sparked renewed concerns as scrutiny intensifies over audit queries and financial liabilities reportedly accumulated during his tenure.

Sources indicate that the former CEO returned the vehicle to COCOBOD’s headquarters in Accra after he was reportedly informed that the Bureau of National Investigations could be engaged to retrieve it. The development adds a new dimension to the ongoing questions surrounding activities during the previous leadership of the cocoa regulator.

Reports suggest that the vehicle had remained in the possession of the former CEO even after he left office and was only returned about 14 months later. The delay has raised questions among officials and observers about the circumstances surrounding the matter.

The issue emerges at a time when former managers of COCOBOD are reportedly facing increasing scrutiny over unresolved audit queries raised by the Ghana Audit Service.

Currently, the new Chief Executive of COCOBOD, Randy Abbey, is reviewing the institution’s financial position following the recent leadership transition. Sources suggest the new administration inherited liabilities estimated at about GH¢32.9 billion.

In response to the audit concerns, portions of the findings have reportedly been forwarded to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for further investigations and possible legal action where necessary. The move is aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

Among the procurement matters under review are contracts involving farm inputs and equipment reportedly valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. These include slashers, pruners, fertilisers, insecticides, jute sacks, solar lanterns and Wellington boots intended for distribution to cocoa farmers across the country.

However, some reports indicate that certain items, particularly slashers and pruners, were rejected by some farmers who preferred the traditional use of cutlasses. This has raised further questions about whether adequate consultation was conducted before the procurements were made.

COCOBOD remains one of Ghana’s most important state institutions, responsible for regulating and promoting the country’s cocoa industry, which continues to be a key contributor to export earnings and rural livelihoods.

The unfolding developments are therefore expected to draw close public attention as investigations and institutional reviews continue.