• COCOBOD bosses cut their own salaries while cocoa farmers still battle low prices and rising costs
• Management pay cuts expose deep financial cracks in Ghana’s struggling cocoa sector
• Austerity at COCOBOD raises questions about leadership decisions and the true state of cocoa revenues
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced salary reductions for its executive management and senior staff as part of measures to address ongoing financial pressures within Ghana’s cocoa sector.
In a press release dated February 16, 2026, COCOBOD disclosed that the decision took immediate effect and will remain in place for the remainder of the 2025/26 crop season. The move is intended to reflect the organization’s commitment to confronting liquidity challenges currently affecting the cocoa industry.
According to the statement, executive management have accepted a 20 percent salary reduction, while senior staff members have taken a 10 percent pay cut.
Management indicated that the pay cuts form part of a broader cost-containment strategy. Additional measures include procurement cost controls and a staff rationalisation exercise aimed at reducing overall expenditure and aligning operational costs with revenue realities.
The decision comes at a time when Ghana’s cocoa sector faces financial strain linked to declining revenues, rising production costs, and market pressures. By implementing internal austerity measures, COCOBOD leadership signals an effort to demonstrate shared sacrifice while stabilizing the institution’s financial position.
Industry observers say the move could influence ongoing debates about cocoa pricing, sector reforms, and fiscal sustainability in one of Ghana’s most critical export industries.
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