Finance Minister Ato Forson has issued a strong and urgent call to the newly inaugurated board of the Produce Buying Company (PBC), warning that they must not repeat the mistakes of the past as the institution struggles under the weight of corruption and mismanagement.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the new board chaired by Nana Meisu Adu, Forson lamented the collapse of what was once a vibrant company central to Ghana’s cocoa sector. “The company has, sadly, been brought to its knees,” he said, making clear his frustration over the extent of institutional failure.
He expressed particular outrage that PBC, a company with national significance, is currently unable to meet its most basic obligation—paying its workers. For the Finance Minister, this isn’t just a business issue but a moral one. “It is unacceptable that PBC cannot even pay its workers. This must not continue,” he stressed.
Forson reminded the new board members that they were stepping into a company riddled with credibility issues. He urged them to restore not just operational efficiency, but also the public’s faith in the company. “You have a critical responsibility to restore transparency, efficiency, and public confidence in this institution,” he charged.
He didn’t mince words about the task ahead, saying it was “enormous but necessary,” and laid the burden squarely at the feet of the board members. In his words, “The future of PBC depends on your actions. You must not fail.”
Describing the appointment of the new board as a possible “turning point,” Forson called for a collective effort to steer the company back to the path of viability and integrity, adding that his support as Finance Minister would be available—but results would be expected.
