The Ranking Member of Parliament’s Food, Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs Committee, Isaac Yaw Opoku, has criticised COCOBOD’s recent decision to cut staff salaries, describing it as an unfair move that penalises employees for management’s own failings.
In an interview on Tuesday, he suggested that the board could raise funds through improved financial management instead of reducing workers’ wages.
“If they stop the massive renovations, the unnecessary renovations they are doing, I think they can raise more money to finance cocoa purchases. It’s a better way than reducing the poor Cocobod staff’s salaries and wages. I don’t support that at all,” he said.
The MP’s comments come in the wake of COCOBOD’s announcement that Executive Management and Senior Staff would take salary reductions for the remainder of the 2025/26 crop year.
Executive Management will take a 20% pay cut, while Senior Staff will accept a 10% reduction, citing liquidity challenges in the cocoa industry.
However, the MP argued that ordinary staff should not bear the brunt of management decisions, especially when issues like delayed payments to cocoa farmers remain unresolved.
He further criticised the approach of adjusting salaries in line with international cocoa price fluctuations, noting that such a system creates an unstable work environment and could demoralise staff.
“Anytime the international price goes up, the wages and salaries of COCOBOD staff will be increased. And anytime it goes down, it will be reduced. How do you create a system like that? Who will have the comfort to work in such an environment?”
The MP also highlighted the need for greater transparency and accountability in how COCOBOD manages funds, including curbing unnecessary expenditure on renovations and operational costs.
“The board must prioritise funding for cocoa purchases and timely payments to farmers. Cutting staff wages should never be the first option,” he said.
