The events leading to how the official ban
was overturned by the Vice President.
*APRIL 7TH 2010*
Undercover investigation by a journalist in Ghana identifies
Armajaro (one of the world’s largest cocoa commodity traders
owned by Anthony Ward) contractor as an alleged smuggling
conspirator. The company faces a partial trading ban.
*JULY 1ST 2010*
**Anthony Ward, chief executive of Armajaro Holdings and a
Conservative party donor, writes to Andrew Mitchell,
international development secretary, asking for help to
overturn the ban.
His leaked letter reads:
*We would like to ask you to intervene on our behalf at
presidential level to request the ban lifted*‘
*JULY **6TH*
Mitchell phones Nicholas Westcott, the High Commissioner in
Ghana, for
briefing on Armajaro. Department for International
Development (DFID) officials email Ward’s letter to the
Foreign Office. The leaked letter reads: ‘*It will be in
your best interest to give this request your urgent
attention*‘ Civil Servants raise concerns about lobbing the
Ghanaian vice president (see why in later follow up release)
at a London trade forum, as suggested by Ward’s letter.
Concerned Foreign Office email reads:
‘*Should the UK company realise that they’ve broken the
rules and have to pay the price?*‘
*JULY 7TH 2010*
Henry Bellingham, the Foreign Office minister, dines with
John Dramani
Mahama and lobbies him on Armajaro’s behalf.
Leaked Foreign Office memo reads:
‘*The vice president (John Mahama) has undertaken to look
into it
immediately on his return*‘
‘*They might like to know what we’ve done on their behalf.*‘
*AUGUST 2010*
Westcott sends email to DFID disclosing that the Ghana Cocoa
Board had drawn
up a draft decision to allow Armajaro to resume trading.
Leaked Foreign
Office memo reads:
‘*I hope this will sort the matter.*‘
*SEPTEMBER 8TH 2010*
Trade ban on Armajaro in Ghana is lifted in all but one
district.
*John **Dramani** **Mahama’s** gift for betraying cocoa
farmers – read
the full Monty in the next follow up.*
Review, May 22, Ghanadot - The significance of
Asantehene (King), Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s years-long
10th anniversary festivity on his ascension to the
Asanteman Golden Stool goes beyond the remarkable
cultural displays....
More
Press Release, Nov 8, Ghanadot - The Chairman of the
New Patriotic Party, Jake Obestebi-Lamptey, has, in a press
release on Sunday, called on the directors of the Ghana
Cocoa Board (Cocobod) to explain to Ghanaians what
influenced their decision to unban a cocoa buying company
that was recently banned .....More
Accra, May 22, Ghanadot -
President of Ghana, Professor John Evans Atta Mills today
has, in accordance with established procedures, appointed
the following persons as Members and Chairpersons of the
Boards and Councils of the following state entities:....More
