The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is urging the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU-Ghana) and the General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) to consider the plight of cocoa farmers as the Board implements austerity measures to revive the sector.
The appeal follows opposition by ICU-Ghana and GAWU to COCOBOD’s decision to cut staff salaries. The unions have demanded a reversal of the move, describing it as unacceptable.
COCOBOD’s Executive Management and Senior Staff recently announced salary reductions of 20 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively, in response to ongoing liquidity challenges in the cocoa sector.
Speaking to Citi Business News, COCOBOD’s Head of Public Affairs, Jerome Kwaku Sam, argued that farmers — the most critical stakeholders in the cocoa value chain — have already borne the brunt of recent reforms following the reduction in the cocoa producer price.
He emphasised that staff remuneration is sustained by proceeds from cocoa production, adding that the financial health of farmers and the sector must remain central to discussions on cost-cutting.
“We should never be oblivious about their plight because if they are not there, we aren’t there. Our relevance is contingent on the existence of the cocoa farmer who goes through a lot to produce for us to sell and generate revenue.
“At every point in time, the farmer ought to have been the last person to take a hit. But in this case, the farmer happens to be the first person to take the hit. So if the farmer, who is the most important stakeholder, has taken a hit, COCOBOD staff taking a 20 per cent or 10 per cent, I think it shouldn’t be an issue at all,” he said.
The government recently reduced the cocoa producer price to GH¢41,392 per tonne — equivalent to GH¢2,587 per bag — for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season.
Addressing the press on Thursday, February 12, the Minister for Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, said the decision was informed by prevailing conditions on the international cocoa market.
Meanwhile, COCOBOD has announced that GH¢237 million has been paid to farmers for 50,000 metric tonnes of cocoa.
