Report By: Business Desk
Accra, Ghana – The Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU-Ghana) and the General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) of TUC (Ghana) have welcomed the government’s measures to reform the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and the cocoa industry.
In a press release signed by Morgan Ayawine, General Secretary of ICU-Ghana, and Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe, General Secretary of GAWU of TUC (Ghana), on February 17, 2026, the unions praised the government’s initiatives, which include allocating 50% of the total cocoa produced in Ghana to Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) and other local processing companies for processing. This move is expected to promote value addition and create jobs, benefiting the large number of unemployed youth in the country.
The unions also commended the government’s decision to offload COCOBOD’s legacy debt to the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana, as well as the automatic adjustment of producer prices to align with movements in world market prices, exchange rates, and other key variables. These measures, they said, will have a monumental and positive impact on COCOBOD’s operations and the national economy at large.
However, the unions strongly oppose the decision to reduce the salaries of senior and management staff of COCOBOD, some of whom are unionized, by 10 and 20 percent respectively.
They argue that this decision, taken without recourse to the rules of engagement required by the Labour Law and their Collective Agreement with the relevant social partners, may adversely affect staff morale and negatively impact productivity.
“We vehemently oppose the decision to reduce the salaries of senior and management staff of COCOBOD, as this may adversely affect staff morale and negatively impact productivity,” said Morgan Ayawine, General Secretary of ICU-Ghana.
Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe, General Secretary of GAWU of TUC (Ghana), added, “The decision to reduce salaries was taken without consultation with the unions, and we demand a reversal of the decision and engagement with the unions on the way forward.”
The unions emphasized the need for effective management and insulation from external pressures to ensure the industry’s sustainability. They also called on Management of COCOBOD, its units, and other stakeholders in the cocoa industry to play their respective roles effectively to sustain the growth and development of the cocoa industry.
“There is also the need to create structures and systems that will insulate COCOBOD from external pressures and partisan politics if we are fully committed to ensuring the survival and sustainability of the cocoa industry,” the unions said.
The ICU-Ghana and GAWU of TUC (Ghana) expressed confidence that the skilled workforce of COCOBOD, its divisions, and subsidiaries will redouble their efforts to help the Board achieve its set objectives.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
