CHRAJ clears COCOBOD CEO Ransford Abbey over asset declaration complaint

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has dismissed a complaint alleging that the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board, Dr Ransford Anertey Abbey, failed to declare his assets in accordance with Ghana’s asset declaration laws.

The complaint, filed by Wilberforce Asare in November 2025, alleged that Dr. Abbey had not declared his assets and liabilities in his capacity as Chief Executive of COCOBOD, contrary to Article 286 of the 1992 Constitution and provisions of the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550).

The petitioner relied on information obtained through a Right to Information request to the Auditor-General, which suggested that the declaration made by Dr. Abbey was in his previous capacity as a policy adviser to the Vice-President rather than as CEO of COCOBOD.

However, after reviewing documentary evidence and conducting investigations, CHRAJ concluded that Dr. Abbey had indeed declared his assets and liabilities as Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD.

According to the Commission’s findings, Dr. Abbey submitted his asset declaration to the Auditor-General on March 24, 2025, barely two months after his appointment as Acting CEO on January 21, 2025.

CHRAJ noted that the declaration was made within the statutory period required under the law.

The Commission further determined that the description of Dr. Abbey as a “policy adviser to the Vice-President” in one of the records from the Audit Service was erroneous and did not reflect the position indicated by the respondent in his declaration documents.

“From the preponderance of probabilities, the respondent declared his assets and liabilities in his position as Chief Executive Officer and not as policy adviser to the Vice-President,” the Commission stated.

CHRAJ therefore concluded that Dr. Abbey had complied fully with the asset declaration requirements stipulated under Article 286 of the Constitution and Act 550.

“The allegation brought against the respondent wholly lacks merit and is accordingly dismissed,” the Commission ruled.

In its decision, CHRAJ also commended Dr. Abbey for the timely submission of his asset declaration forms to the Auditor-General, describing it as compliance with the constitutional and statutory obligations imposed on public office holders.