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A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Communications Team, Emmanuel Senyo Amekplenu, has filed a Right to Information (RTI) request to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), demanding full disclosure on the recent salary cuts announced for its management and senior staff.
In a formal petition dated February 17, 2026, and addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Mr. Amekplenu is requesting copies of board resolutions, minutes, memoranda, and directives that authorised the 20 per cent salary reduction for Executive Management and the 10 per cent cut for Senior Staff.
The request follows a press release issued by COCOBOD on February 16, 2026, announcing the pay reductions as part of what the Board described as cost-saving measures.
Mr. Amekplenu, citing Article 21(1)(f) of the 1992 Constitution and the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), is also seeking details on the effective date and duration of the salary cuts, as well as the total annual wage bill of affected staff before and after the reductions.
Additionally, he is demanding information on the projected savings expected from the exercise and the number of staff impacted.
Beyond the salary adjustments, the NPP communicator is requesting COCOBOD’s approved procurement plan for the 2025/2026 financial year, including any amendments made within the same period. He further seeks comprehensive details on goods and services procured from January 1, 2025, to date, including suppliers, contract sums, procurement methods, and copies of contracts or award letters where applicable.
Mr. Amekplenu is also asking the Board to justify any reduction in cocoa prices paid to farmers, requesting the legal, financial, and policy basis for such decisions, as well as minutes of meetings and correspondence with the Ministry of Finance or other government agencies relating to the matter.
He has requested that the information be provided in electronic format where available and expects a response within 14 working days, in line with provisions of the RTI Act.
The development adds to growing public interest in COCOBOD’s financial management and policy decisions amid ongoing discussions about reforms in the cocoa sector.
Find statement below
Yaw Boagyan
