The Cocoa Carriers Association has announced an indefinite sit-down strike starting today, October 7, 2024, at the Tema, Takoradi, and Kumasi depots of the Cocoa Marketing Company Limited. This strike is in response to unresolved issues related to the carriers’ conditions of service, including wage increases and improved working conditions.
The association’s national chairman, Raymond Atanga Abobiga, emphasized that the strike is not targeted at individuals but rather seeks to address the carriers’ legitimate concerns. He urged all members to participate fully in the strike, stating, “We are going to report at work but will be at the gate of the various warehouses and then we are not going to work until they attend to our needs and our demands”.
This is not the first time the Cocoa Carriers Association has taken industrial action. In 2022, a similar strike was undertaken, resulting in thousands of bags of cocoa beans being left unattended at various warehouses ¹. The strike was eventually called off after management agreed to increase the carriers’ daily wage from 62 pesewas (GHS 0.62) per bag to 82 pesewas.
The cocoa carriers’ demands include better compensation and safer working conditions. Many carriers have reported sicknesses and rashes due to exposure to chemicals and physical injuries from handling heavy bags.
The strike is expected to impact the haulage of cocoa, a critical sector of Ghana’s economy. In 2022, the strike significantly affected the transportation of cocoa, highlighting the carriers’ crucial role in the supply chain.
The Cocoa Carriers Association is seeking a daily wage of 1 cedi per bag, up from the current 82 pesewas. The association has expressed dissatisfaction with the previous agreement, citing the need for further improvements in their working conditions.
The strike’s timing is crucial, as Ghana’s cocoa industry is a significant contributor to the country’s economy. The cocoa carriers’ demands for better working conditions and compensation are seen as reasonable, given the hazardous nature of their work.
In the 2022 strike, casual laborers and prison inmates were employed to carry cocoa into COCOBOD’s warehouses, highlighting the challenges faced by the carriers.
The Cocoa Carriers Association’s decision to embark on an indefinite strike underscores the urgency of their demands. The association is committed to ensuring that its members receive fair treatment and safe working conditions.
As the strike begins, the impact on Ghana’s cocoa industry will be closely monitored. The association’s determination to address their grievances may lead to improved working conditions and compensation for cocoa carriers nationwide.
