Cocoa carriers boycott services, demand 3 cedis labour fee

Cocoa carriers Association of Ghana is boycotting their services nationwide over the failure of management of the Ghana Cocoa Board to increase the labour fees for carrying cocoa beans at various warehouses.

The group is demanding the board for an upward adjustment of the fee from an initial 1.70 cedis to 3 cedis for carrying a bag of cocoa beans.

The leadership of the association has instructed its members at the Tema, Takoradi, and Kumasi depots of the Cocoa Marketing Company Limited to commence an indefinite sit-down strike on Monday, October 7, 2024.

In 2022, the association embarked on a similar industrial action, demanding wage increases and improved working conditions.

The strike led to thousands of bags of cocoa beans being abandoned at various Cocoa Marketing Company Limited warehouses.

National Chairman of the Association, Raymond Atanga Abobiga, says their treatment is unfair.

He has directed all members across the country to participate fully in the indefinite strike.

“We are going to report at work but will be at the gate of the various warehouses and then we are not going to work until they attend to our needs and our demands.

“I want the management of COCBOD and our directors to know that we are not against an individual and that we are fighting a just cause,” he stated.

When the news team visited the cocoa marketing depot in Kumasi, the carriers had their usual morning duties of unpacking, carrying and stacking bags of cocoa at the depot.

The group says until their calls are heeded by the management they are not ready to rescind their decision.