Management of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has refuted reports indicating that a number of enumerators who worked with the institution were suddenly dismissed without any form of notice.

In a rejoinder dated May 22, 2023, COCOBOD accused the Anchor newspaper of linking an official notice from its outfit to enumerators about their contract to Ghana’s IMF deal and funding challenges.

Clarifying the misreportage, COCOBOD revealed that the contract staff hired as enumerators whose specific role was the collection of data and registration onto the Cocoa Management System (CMS) were issued six-month contracts, not permanent employment.

“This was made known to them at the time of their recruitment,” the rejoinder titled “Bankrupt COCOBOD abruptly sacks officers” added.

Per management’s statement, the enumerators’ services were no longer required as the enumeration and the registration of cocoa farmers for the CMS and the onboarding onto the first phase of the CFPS were successfully completed on May 15, 2023.

In view of this and as a standard practice, a letter from COCOBOD to all enumerators was sent to serve as the official two-week notice of the end of contracts although some enumerators had the opportunity to have their contracts extended.

This letter, COCOBOD says, has been “misconstrued” and presently finds the claim made by The Anchor Newspaper that “information concerning this matter is sketchy”, rather unfortunate.

“The point must be reiterated that prior to the notice of the end of contract, COCOBOD had informed and explained to the contract staff concerned, to make them sufficiently aware of the matter. There was no need, therefore, to stir a storm out of a teacup.

According to management, the newspaper made no attempt whatsoever to reach COCOBOD for any information or clarification.

Following the clarification, COCOBOD has advised the public to disregard the content of the article “which is not only speculative but also misleading and avoidable.”

Source: The Independent Ghana