Morgan Ayawine and Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe
The Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU) Ghana and the General Agricultural Workers’ Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have commended the government’s efforts to reform the cocoa sector, particularly the decision to allocate 50% of cocoa produced in Ghana for local processing.
In a joint statement issued and signed on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 by the General Secretary of ICU, Morgan Ayawine and the General Secretary of GAWU of TUC (Ghana), Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe said measures taken by the government to reform the cocoa industry particularly the new financing model are not only laudable but also economically prudent to sustain the sector.
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson on February 12, 2026 following an emergency cabinet meeting announced various reforms including a new financing model to use domestic cocoa bonds to purchase beans, as well as processing 50% of cocoa produced in the country among several others.
Those reforms according to the unions will promote value addition and create jobs to cater for unemployed youths adding that offloading COCOBOD’s legacy debt to other institutions such as the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana will go a long way to have a positive impact on COCOCBOD’s operations and the larger economy.
“These measures resonate strongly with the position and representations of ICU-Ghana and GAWU of TUC (Ghana) to government regarding the financial and operational challenges facing COCOBOD and PBC, which the unions have consistently advocated since last year.”
“Undoubtedly, these interventions will give COCOBOD and PBC a new lease of life and the impetus needed to deliver on their mandate to stabilise and transform the cocoa industry in Ghana aligning with movements in world market prices, exchange rates, and other key variables among others,” parts of the statement read.
While commending the government for the timely intervention to save COCOBOD, Produce Buying Company (PBC), and ultimately the cocoa industry, the two unions opposed the decision to reduce the salaries of management and senior staff of COCOBOD and called for a reversal of the decision.
This, the unions believe may adversely affect staff morale and negatively impact productivity some of whom are unionized.
“Reducing salaries between 10 and 20 percent is totally unacceptable, given that Management of COCOBOD took this decision without recourse to the rules of engagement required by the Labour Law and our Collective Agreement with the relevant social partners, namely ICU-Ghana and GAWU of TUC (Ghana).
“Moving forward, Management of COCOBOD, its units, and other stakeholders in the cocoa industry must play their respective roles effectively to sustain the growth and development of the cocoa industry,” it added.
By Ebenezer K. Amponsah