The Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) and the General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) have commended the Government for outlining measures to reform the operations of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
A joint statement signed by Mr Morgan Ayawine, General Secretary of ICU-Ghana, and Mr Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe, General Secretary of GAWU of Trade Union Congress (Ghana), said the measures were announced by Mr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance, at a press briefing on February 12, 2026.
It said the measures included a financing model to enable COCOBOD to allocate 50 per cent of total cocoa produced in Ghana to the Cocoa Processing Company and other local processing firms for domestic processing to promote value addition and job creation.
The statement said the offloading of COCOBOD’s legacy debt to the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana, as well as the automatic adjustment of producer prices in line with world market prices and exchange rates, would have a significant positive impact on COCOBOD’s operations and the national economy.
It noted that the measures aligned with representations made by ICU-Ghana and GAWU regarding the financial and operational challenges confronting COCOBOD and the Produce Buying Company (PBC) and would give the institutions renewed impetus to deliver on their mandate to stabilise and transform the cocoa industry.
However, the statement said the unions strongly opposed the decision to reduce the salaries of senior and management staff of COCOBOD, explaining that the move would adversely affect staff morale and productivity.
It said the decision was taken without recourse to the rules of engagement required under labour law and the unions’ collective agreement with the relevant social partners.
The statement demanded a reversal of the decision and called for engagement with the unions on the way forward.
It urged COCOBOD management and stakeholders to play their respective roles effectively to sustain the growth and development of the cocoa industry.
The statement called for the establishment of structures and systems to insulate COCOBOD from external pressures and partisan politics to ensure the sustainability of the industry.
“ICU-Ghana and GAWU of TUC-Ghana are confident that the skilled workforce of COCOBOD, its divisions, and subsidiaries will redouble their efforts to help the Board achieve its set objectives,” it said.
