A formal rebuttal has been issued in response to a petition seeking to halt the confirmation of Mr. Ato Boateng as Deputy Chief Executive (Finance & Administration) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).

The petition, submitted by Vincent Ekow Assafuah, Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, called for Mr. Boateng to step aside over concerns linked to his previous role as Chief Executive Officer of Atlas Commodities Limited.

However, supporters of the appointment have dismissed the petition as “much ado about nothing,” arguing that it lacks substantive evidence of wrongdoing.

In the February 25, 2026 petition, the MP raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest arising from Mr. Boateng’s former leadership of the private commodities firm.

But the rebuttal insists the claims are based on speculation rather than proof of regulatory breaches.

It outlines several key points:

No Current Ownership: The petition does not establish that Mr. Boateng currently holds shares in Atlas Commodities Limited.

No Executive Control: There is no evidence that he exercises decision-making authority or control over the company while serving at COCOBOD.

No Policy Influence: The rebuttal states there is no indication that Mr. Boateng has participated in any COCOBOD decision that directly benefits his former employer.

No Financial Gain: The petition reportedly fails to cite any instance in which Mr. Boateng has derived financial benefit from the company’s operations since assuming public office.

The petition referenced Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution, which governs the conduct of public officers and addresses conflicts of interest.

However, the rebuttal argues that this provision has been misinterpreted.

According to the response, a conflict of interest must involve a “real and present” personal interest that conflicts with official duties.

It maintains that past employment alone does not constitute a constitutional breach.

The statement further contends that disqualifying individuals solely on the basis of prior professional experience within an industry would undermine efforts to bring sector expertise into public administration.

The rebuttal also addressed allegations that Mr. Boateng attempted to interfere with records at the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) on February 20, 2026.

It described the claim as a “distortion of facts,” arguing that it is illogical to suggest an abuse of office at COCOBOD based on alleged actions at a separate public institution where Mr. Boateng does not hold supervisory authority.

Concluding, the statement characterised the petition as an attempt to obstruct the confirmation of a qualified nominee through conjecture rather than verified evidence.

It urged the Governing Board of COCOBOD and the general public to disregard the petition, insisting that no current constitutional or regulatory breaches have been demonstrated.