The Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU-Ghana) and the Ghana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have thrown their support behind government reforms aimed at restructuring the ailing cocoa sector, describing the measures as “economically prudent” and timely.
In a statement dated February 17, 2026, and signed by ICU-Ghana General Secretary Morgan Ayawine and GAWU General Secretary Andrews Addoquaye Tagoe, the unions welcomed the announcement made by the Finance Minister on February 12 outlining sweeping reforms to the operations of the (COCOBOD).
The unions said the recent deterioration in the operations of COCOBOD and the Produce Buying Company (PBC) had sparked widespread concern among stakeholders, warning that the challenges pose risks to the broader economy.
“Cocoa remains the mainstay of Ghana’s economy — ‘Cocoa is Ghana and Ghana is Cocoa,’” the statement said, underscoring the strategic importance of the sector.
Reforms Applauded
Among the key measures praised by the unions is a new financing model that will allow COCOBOD to allocate 50 percent of Ghana’s total cocoa output to the (CPC) and other local processing firms.
According to the unions, the initiative will promote value addition and create employment opportunities, particularly for unemployed youth.
“This initiative will promote value addition and job creation, thereby benefiting the large number of unemployed youth in the country,” the statement noted.
The unions also commended the decision to offload COCOBOD’s legacy debt to the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana, as well as the introduction of an automatic adjustment mechanism for producer prices to reflect movements in world market prices, exchange rates and other key variables.
They described these interventions as having a “monumental and positive impact” on both COCOBOD’s operations and the national economy.
The labour groups emphasized that the reforms align with their long-standing advocacy.
“These measures resonate strongly with the position and representations of ICU-Ghana and GAWU… regarding the financial and operational challenges facing COCOBOD and PBC, which the unions have consistently advocated since last year,” the statement said.
Salary Cuts Opposed
Despite their endorsement of the broader reform agenda, the unions strongly criticized the decision to reduce the salaries of senior and Management staff at COCOBOD by between 10 and 20 percent.
They warned that the move could undermine staff morale and productivity.
“The decision to reduce the salaries of senior and Management staff… is totally unacceptable,” the unions declared, arguing that Management failed to follow due process under Ghana’s Labour Law and existing collective agreements.
They are demanding an immediate reversal of the decision and formal engagement with union representatives to determine a way forward.
Call for Structural Safeguards
Looking ahead, the unions urged COCOBOD Management, its subsidiaries and other industry stakeholders to effectively play their respective roles to sustain growth in the cocoa sector.
They also called for the establishment of institutional safeguards to shield COCOBOD from “external pressures and partisan politics,” stressing that such measures are essential to ensure the long-term survival and sustainability of the industry.
ICU-Ghana and GAWU expressed confidence in the capacity of COCOBOD’s workforce to help steer the reforms to success.
“The skilled workforce of COCOBOD, its divisions and subsidiaries will redouble their efforts to help the Board achieve its set objectives,” the statement concluded.
By Daniel Opoku
