While the mass demonstrations and strikes against illegal mining (galamsey) have dominated headlines, several institutions are also pushing for better service conditions.
The most recent development is the indefinite sit-down strike launched today, October 7, 2024, by the Cocoa Carriers Association. Members at the Tema, Takoradi, and Kumasi depots of the Cocoa Marketing Company Limited (CMC) have suspended all work, demanding that unresolved issues surrounding their conditions of service be addressed.
This is the second major industrial action by the association in recent years. In 2022, members staged a similar strike, protesting inadequate wages and poor working conditions, leading to thousands of cocoa bags piling up at CMC warehouses.
The resulting disruption significantly impacted Ghana’s cocoa supply chain, highlighting the critical role these carriers play.
Despite efforts by management to resolve the situation, the association insists that many of the core issues remain unaddressed.
Raymond Atanga Abobiga, the National Chairman of the Cocoa Carriers Association, emphasized that the strike will continue until their demands are met.
“We will report to work but will remain at the gates of the warehouses until they attend to our needs,” Abobiga told Citi News.
He stressed that the action is not personal, saying, “We are not against any individual; we are fighting a just cause.”
The association hopes this latest action will compel COCBOD and its directors to prioritize the welfare of its workers.
