The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced salary reductions for its top officials as it grapples with persistent liquidity challenges in the cocoa sector.
In a statement issued on February 16, 2026, COCOBOD said members of its Executive Management will take a 20 percent pay cut, while Senior Staff will absorb a 10 percent reduction for the rest of the 2025/2026 crop year. The move takes immediate effect.
Management described the decision as part of broader cost-containment measures aimed at aligning spending with declining revenues. Additional steps, including procurement reforms and staff rationalisation, are also being rolled out to stabilise the institution’s finances.
The pay cuts come amid heightened pressure on the cocoa industry, driven by rising operational costs, heavy financing burdens, farmer welfare concerns, and growing scrutiny over cocoa pricing and COCOBOD’s financial health.
In recent weeks, cocoa pricing and the long-term sustainability of cocoa farming have dominated national debate, with industry observers pointing to global price volatility and mounting debt as key risks.
COCOBOD’s leadership framed the salary reductions as a gesture of shared sacrifice during a period of restructuring, although the Board did not disclose the size of its liquidity gap or the expected savings from the pay cuts.