A brewing disquiet at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) threatens to escalate as the outgoing management, led by Joseph Boahen Aidoo, undertakes a controversial promotional exercise that has drawn backlash from staff and political observers.

The exercise, which began on Monday, December 9, 2024, seeks to promote approximately 100 staff members, many of whom are perceived to be unqualified but aligned with the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Traditionally, COCOBOD’s promotional processes take five to seven months, allowing sufficient time for interviews, committee reviews, and the issuance of promotion letters to deserving staff. However, the current process is being expedited, with management reportedly aiming to complete promotions within two weeks.

This has raised concerns among staff and political stakeholders, who view the exercise as an attempt to reward political loyalists before the transition to a new government. The NPP is set to hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on January 7, 2025, following the latter’s electoral victory.

In an unusual move, the promotional process has also included staff who were previously interviewed but denied promotions in recent months due to suspicions of affiliation with the NDC. This decision has heightened suspicions that the exercise is politically motivated rather than merit-based.

Leading members of the NDC, poised to form the next government, have criticized the promotional process as dubious. They have issued a stern warning to the Joseph Boahen Aidoo-led management to halt the exercise, cautioning that any appointments deemed politically influenced will be reversed once the NDC assumes office.

“The outgoing management must desist from actions that could tie the hands of the incoming government. Promotions should be based on merit, not political loyalty,” a senior NDC official stated.

The expedited timeline and deviation from established procedures have added to the unease.

Typically, after interviews, a review committee is set up to scrutinize the results—a process that takes over three months to complete. Only then are successful candidates issued promotion letters, with the entire procedure often taking an additional three months.

The abrupt departure from this precedent has fueled allegations of impropriety.

The developments have created an uneasy calm among COCOBOD staff. While some are hopeful for promotions, others express frustration over perceived favoritism and political interference.

Observers warn that, if unresolved, the issue could create friction between the outgoing and incoming administrations and negatively impact staff morale and organizational performance.

With the NDC’s vow to reverse politically influenced promotions, the coming months are likely to test COCOBOD’s internal structures and the integrity of its management practices.