Ghana Cocoa Board Pay Cuts Welcomed by Cocoa Farmers Amid Liquity Strain

Stakeholders across Ghana’s cocoa value chain have welcomed the salary reductions imposed on staff of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), describing the move as a necessary step to help stabilise the struggling sector.

Under the new measures, COCOBOD executives will take a 20 percent pay cut, while senior staff will accept a 10 percent reduction for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop year.

Speaking to Citi News, President of the Ghana National Association of Cocoa Farmers, Stephenson Anane Boateng, said farmers consider the decision appropriate given the financial challenges facing the industry.

“We were expecting it to be 30 percent looking at their salaries. Now that they have come up with 20 percent, we are okay. It shows that they have considered our request, unlike before. So we are a bit okay,” he said.

In a press release dated February 16, 2026, COCOBOD’s Executive Management and Senior Staff announced the salary reductions in response to ongoing liquidity constraints affecting the cocoa sector.

The cuts take immediate effect and will remain in force for the rest of the crop year as part of broader cost-containment measures designed to align expenditure with revenue.

Management also indicated that additional steps including procurement reforms and a staff rationalisation exercise are being implemented to help restore financial stability at the Board.