By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
The President of the Accountability Forum, Kwame Owusu Danso, Esq., has criticised the leadership of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) over its handling of the sector’s liquidity challenges, describing it as “strategic mismanagement” and accusing officials of failing to engage key stakeholders effectively.
Speaking on GBC’s Current Agenda analysis talk show on February 21, Owusu Danso emphasised that while research is important, it is equally crucial to leverage the expertise of surrounding teams rather than attempting to tackle all challenges alone.
“My question is, how do salary cuts solve the problem at hand?” he asked.
His comments come after COCOBOD’s executive management and senior staff voluntarily reduced their salaries, effective February 16, 2026, for the remainder of the 2025/26 crop year.
The measure is aimed at aligning expenditure with revenue and ensuring the sustainability of the institution. It forms part of broader cost-cutting measures, including procurement reforms and a staff rationalisation exercise, to stabilise COCOBOD’s finances amid rising operational costs, financial pressures, and concerns over farmer welfare.
Lawyer Owusu Danso argued that the current approach has compounded the problem, creating additional challenges that are proving difficult to manage. He criticized COCOBOD’s leadership for poor communication with active players in the sector, saying this has contributed to the current predicament.
Despite calling for change, he cautioned against hasty decisions and advocated for a more measured approach that involves listening, dialogue, and outreach to ensure the institution’s success and benefits.
