BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Concerns are mounting within the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) as staff and industry observers raise alarm over a series of decisions taken under the Chief Executive Officer, Randy Abbey.
What began as internal unease has now grown into wider public scrutiny, with many questioning the direction in which the once-stable institution is heading.
For decades, COCOBOD has been regarded as one of the.most structured state institutions, sustaining cocoa farmers while maintaining internal welfare systems for its workforce.
However, recent developments suggest a sharp departure from that tradition.
For the first time in more than a decade, employees have reportedly not received their annual “Bingo” payments—an incentive traditionally funded from savings made through the sale of jute cocoa sacks.
The benefit, long considered a standard entitlement, has historically been paid even during difficult financial periods. Its sudden withdrawal has therefore raised eyebrows, particularly as the Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC), a subsidiary of COCOBOD, reportedly paid its staff in full.
The situation has been compounded by the unprecedented suspension of the 13th-month salary, another long-standing staff benefit.
Management has justified the move by citing financial distress and mounting debt within the organisation.
However, this explanation has been met with scepticism among workers and industry observers, who argue that the financial narrative does not align with recent administrative actions.
Within the same nine-month period in which staff benefits were halted, COCOBOD is said to have undertaken several high-cost initiatives.
These include the procurement of more than 15 Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles for top management and directors, the recruitment of approximately 103 new staff members, and the promotion of about 75 officers into managerial and director-level positions.
Additionally, reports indicate that millions of cedis were spent on elaborate Christmas decorations across COCOBOD premises, including office spaces, corridors and washrooms—an expenditure that has further fueled public concern.
The apparent contradiction between claims of financial distress and visible spending has triggered questions about governance, prioritisation, and accountability.
Workers argue that if the institution is truly facing financial hardship, austerity measures should begin at the top rather than targeting staff welfare benefits that have been in place for years.
Observers within the cocoa sector warn that morale among employees is rapidly deteriorating and that continued dissatisfaction could affect productivity and institutional stability.
Some have called on the Ministry of Finance and the Presidency to intervene and demand clarity on COCOBOD’s financial management under the current administration.
