The Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU-Ghana) together with the General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) under the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have strongly opposed the Ghana Cocoa Board’s decision to reduce the salaries of its senior and management staff.
The labour unions described the move as unjustified and warned that it could undermine worker confidence and overall output within the organisation.
Their reaction follows the Finance Minister’s announcement on February 12, 2026 outlining a series of restructuring measures intended to restore financial stability to COCOBOD and reposition Ghana’s cocoa sector. Among the measures announced were plans to restructure accumulated debts, adjust producer prices in line with global market movements, and dedicate half of the country’s cocoa output to domestic processing.
While ICU-Ghana and GAWU acknowledged that the broader reform programme appears necessary and could strengthen the industry in the long term, they expressed deep concern over the decision to cut salaries of senior officials by between 10 and 20 percent.
According to the unions, the salary reductions were implemented without adequate consultation and did not follow laid-down procedures under Ghana’s Labour Act or the applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement. They argued that bypassing established labour processes sets a worrying precedent and risks damaging trust between management and staff.
The unions further cautioned that reducing compensation at a time when the cocoa sector is already grappling with operational and financial pressures could weaken morale among employees, affect commitment levels, and ultimately slow down productivity.
They called on COCOBOD’s leadership and the government to reconsider the decision and engage in dialogue with organised labour to find solutions that protect both the institution’s financial health and the welfare of its workforce.
ICU-Ghana and GAWU maintained that any reform agenda aimed at revitalising the cocoa industry must balance fiscal discipline with fair labour practices to ensure sustainable growth and industrial harmony.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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