Even before he takes his seat as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana’s COCOBOD, Dr. Stephen Opuni appears to be in dire straits regarding his appointment. Information reaching Scandal indicates that there is a considerable amount of uncertainty about the source and circumstances surrounding the appointment.

Our sources allege that the President’s men at the Flagstaff House are fuming with anger over the November 30, 2013 announcement of the appointment, and the indications are that the President and/or his men may not have been in the picture at all.

The announcement of Dr. Opuni’s appointment as CEO of Cocobod was first aired by a local television station on November 30, 2013 (a Saturday) and picked up by the print and other media from Monday December 2, 2013.

We are told that the announcement came as a big surprise to some powerful aides of the President who would normally be involved with appointments, but this time round were completely left in the dark. The development has thus become a major source of worry in the corridors of power.

The statement announcing Dr. Opuni’s appointment to the Cocobod was neither signed by Dr. Raymond Atuguba, the President’s Executive Secretary nor Chief of Staff, Mr. Prosper Douglas Bani. It was also not signed by the Ministry of Information.

Scandal has gathered that indeed Dr. Opuni was to be replaced as the Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) by one Dela Brimpong, a Pharmacist by profession, but there was no indication as where he (Opuni) was to go next.

Our sources say some people scuttled Mr. Brimpong’s appointment and replaced him with Hudu Mogtari, a development the President is said not to be happy with because of increasing rumours in town that most major government appointments now go to only people of northern decent.

Dr. Opuni has been a very powerful Government official since his appointment by the late President Mills to the FDA. He was so powerful that we are told he even had some brushes with President Mahama while he was still the Vice President under the late President Mills.

The appointment of Dr. Opuni though seen as positive for the cocoa industry because of his hardline stance, is also seen as low for the Presidency.

“It is important that the President re-affirms this appointment if he truly backs it to dispel the rumours that are making the rounds in town”, a Governance expert told the Scandal.

“It is not a good thing when people begin to doubt the source of Executive appointments. It could undermine Executive power,” he added.

Below is the press statement from the Flagstaff House announcing the appointment of Dr. Opuni

Dr. Stephen Opuni Appointed CEO Of COCOBOD

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) Chief Executive Dr. Stephen K. Opuni is the new Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).

He replaces Anthony Fofie who commences his leave prior to the expiration of his contract at the end of the year.

President John Mahama has also appointed a Pharmacist, Hudu Mogtari, as Acting Chief Executive of the FDA Mr. Mogtari holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration, a BSc in Pharmacy and a Professional Qualification in Pharmacy Practice from the Pharmacy Council in 1994.