Agriculture

$12 Million Monthly Compensation for Over 10,000 Staff: Randy Abbey reveals plan to cut costs at COCOBOD

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Randy Abbey, has announced a comprehensive payroll audit to address inefficiencies and potential irregularities within the organisation.

The move comes as part of broader reforms to restore financial discipline and operational efficiency in Ghana’s cocoa sector, which is grappling with a GH₵33 billion debt.

Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues on Sunday, May 25, 2025, Dr Abbey disclosed that COCOBOD employs over 10,000 staff, with monthly compensation costs amounting to approximately US$12 million.

“COCOBOD has over 10,000 people on its payroll, and our staff cost is $12 million USD each month,” he stated.

To ensure accountability, he revealed plans for a staff audit, adding, “We are going to do a staff audit to ascertain whether we are all human beings,” raising concerns about possible ghost names on the payroll.

When questioned about the sustainability of COCOBOD’s financial model, Dr Abbey emphasised that fiscal discipline and waste reduction are critical to turning the organisation around.

“Once there is discipline and we cut down waste, we should be fine. It’s gross mismanagement that puts COCOBOD in a terrible financial situation,” he said.

He attributed the organisation’s financial challenges to procurement mismanagement and the failure of previous leadership to implement a financial turnaround strategy.

Dr Abbey also noted that the recent appreciation of the Ghana cedi would help alleviate COCOBOD’s external debt burden.

Additionally, he disclosed ongoing efforts to address operational inefficiencies, including an audit of stockpiled jute sacks and collaboration with the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to locate 200 missing containers of cocoa-related supplies.

These measures, Dr. Abbey stressed, are aimed at restoring accountability, rebuilding public confidence, and improving efficiency within Ghana’s cocoa sector, a vital contributor to the country’s economy.

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

Related Articles

Back to top button