The one-time national chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and campaign manager for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s successful bids for the presidency in the 2016 and 2020 elections, Peter Mac Manu, has been appointed the board chairman of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).

Mac Manu is expected to take over the role from Hackman Owusu-Agyemang, who served as the COCOBOD chairman during President Akufo-Addo’s first term in office.

The Minister of Food and Agriculture, Owusu Afriyie Akoto, is expected to swear in the new COCOBOD board of directors by Friday 6 August 2021.

Ghana Cocoa Board
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) was established by ordinance in 1947 with the sum of ¢27 million (being Ghana’s share of the net profit from the West African Produce Control Board) as its initial working capital.

The organisation traces its beginnings further back to the cocoa hold-up of 1937, sparked by a farmer-organised boycott.

The board’s mission is to encourage and facilitate the production, processing and marketing of good-quality cocoa, coffee and shea nut in all forms, in the most efficient and cost-effective manner.

Drive and functions
COCOBOD has many objectives and functions. Among them are to initiate programmes aimed at controlling pests and diseases of cocoa, coffee and shea nut; to undertake and encourage the processing of cocoa, coffee, shea nut and cocoa waste with the aim of adding value for export and local consumption; and to undertake, promote and encourage scientific research aimed at improving the quality of cocoa, coffee, shea nut and other tropical crops.

The organisation also regulates the internal marketing of cocoa, coffee and shea nut.

COCOBOD further seeks to secure the most favourable arrangements for the purchase, grading, sealing, certification, sale and export of cocoa, coffee and shea nut, as well as the purchase, market and export cocoa and cocoa products produced in Ghana.

Such produce is graded for export under the Cocoa Industry (Regulations) (Consolidation) Decree 1968 (NLCD 278), or any other enactment as suitable.

Chairman’s role
As the newly appointed board chairman, Peter Mac Manu will be expected to work closely with the COCOBOD management, led by its chief executive officer, Joseph Boahen Aidoo.

His primary task will be to assist in the development of the cocoa, coffee and shea nut industries in Ghana.

Profile
Peter Mac Manu served as the national chairman of the New Patriotic Party from December 2005 to February 2010. He was made manager for the successful campaigns by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party towards the presidential and parliamentary elections of 2016 and 2020.

Mac Manu has a Bachelor’s degree in business administration from the School of Administration of the University of Ghana. He later worked as a businessman and entrepreneur, founding and managing many companies.

Before being elected national chairman of the party, Mac Manu served as the chairman of the NPP in the Western Region.