The recent announcement by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) that its executive management and senior staff would take salary reductions has ignited a heated debate over leadership responsibility, transparency, and the welfare of cocoa farmers.
On 16 February 2026, COCOBOD issued a press statement indicating that the executive management would take a 20% salary cut, while senior staff would accept a 10% reduction for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop year. The measure was framed as a response to liquidity challenges in the cocoa sector, with additional cost-saving strategies including procurement reforms and staff rationalisation aimed at aligning expenditure with revenue.
“The executive management and senior staff have, effective today, reduced their salaries in recognition of the current liquidity challenges in the cocoa industry,” the statement said.
The announcement comes after widespread public criticism regarding the recent reduction of the cocoa producer price from GH¢3,625 to GH¢2,587 per 64-kilogramme bag, a move that many cocoa farmers and industry observers described as unfair. Farmers had expected higher compensation, especially given ongoing volatility in global cocoa prices and the substantial operational costs associated with COCOBOD’s purchases.
Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, Deputy Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament an member of parliament for Bosome-Freho constituency, described the salary cut as a “facade” intended to placate public opinion rather than address structural challenges in the industry. Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, he argued that the move offered little tangible benefit to cocoa farmers, who are now forced to accept lower prices for their produce.
“Good move, 20% by the Chief Executive? Perhaps symbolic, but what is it actually solving? This is leadership by facade,” Adjei said. He questioned the number of staff involved and the overall financial impact of the reductions, noting that the statement did not specify the size of the liquidity gap or the expected savings.
Critics point to COCOBOD’s history of recruitment and expenditure, highlighting that between 2015 and 2026, the agency employed over 200 staff, including senior personnel, even amid growing financial pressures. Adjei and others argue that these decisions have compounded the challenges currently faced by cocoa farmers.
“The supposed cost that is making you do this was there when you came, yet you employed. Check from 2015 to 2020, 2025 to 2026, the number of recruitment COCOBOD has done. More than 200. This is why the farmers cannot bear the brunt of these decisions,” he said.
Proponents of the salary cuts argue that they signal leadership’s willingness to share in the sacrifices required to stabilise the sector. While details remain vague regarding the exact savings, the COCOBOD statement presents the move as part of a broader restructuring exercise, including procurement reforms and staff rationalisation.
Industry watchers acknowledge that global price fluctuations and operational costs have contributed to the current financial strain. COCOBOD leadership maintains that salary reductions, alongside cost containment measures, are necessary to ensure fiscal prudence and maintain the long-term sustainability of cocoa operations.
Nevertheless, the political and public response has been critical. Observers suggest that the salary reductions do not address the immediate needs of cocoa farmers, many of whom rely entirely on seasonal earnings to sustain livelihoods.
Adjei urged the government to take a more proactive role in providing financial support to farmers. “One, there must be a bailout for the farmers. Government should look for money and give it to the farmers and hold the fort. This is how the cocoa market works the volatility cannot be transferred to the farmer,” he said.
He also emphasised accountability within COCOBOD, calling for the dismissal of senior management whose decisions, he argues, have exacerbated the current crisis. “We are saying that everything we are facing here has a problem to do with them and their decisions. The cocoa farmer cannot suffer for somebody’s decision,” Adjei said.
The debate over COCOBOD’s salary cuts comes amid heightened scrutiny of governance in the cocoa sector. Analysts note that salary reductions, while potentially symbolic, are unlikely to restore farmer confidence or offset the shortfall created by the reduced producer price. Instead, many are calling for direct interventions, including financial support, improved price guarantees, and enhanced transparency in management decisions.
“This is not about shared sacrifice; it is about demonstrating responsibility to those whose livelihoods depend on cocoa,” said an independent industry consultant. “Farmers are looking for more than gestures they need concrete actions to stabilise incomes and ensure long-term viability of the sector.”
The Ministry of Finance and COCOBOD have not yet released detailed projections on how the salary cuts will impact overall expenditure or the liquidity gap in the cocoa sector. Analysts warn that without additional support measures for farmers, tensions may escalate, undermining both production and public trust.
Public commentary has been robust across print and social media platforms, with many stakeholders expressing frustration over the perceived disconnect between COCOBOD management and the realities faced by farmers in cocoa-growing regions. Discussions have emphasised transparency, accountability, and the need for policy interventions that prioritise the welfare of those who cultivate Ghana’s key export commodity.
In summary, while COCOBOD’s salary reductions may demonstrate a measure of shared sacrifice, critics argue that the gesture is largely symbolic and does little to address the deeper systemic issues within the cocoa industry. Without government intervention to support farmers directly, the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa sector remains in question.