The Cocoa Marketing Company (Gh) Limited has signed its first collective labour agreement with the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union (ICU), formalizing employment conditions for senior staff and marking a step toward structured labour relations within the state-linked cocoa marketing firm.
The agreement, signed at Cocoa House in Accra, covers senior employees who belong to the Professional and Managerial Staff Union, according to the company. Managing Director Wisdom Kofi Dogbey said the deal reflects management’s commitment to constructive engagement with organised labour while maintaining productivity across the company’s operations.
“Unions play a critical role in fostering industrial harmony and promoting constructive engagement within organisations,” Dogbey said during the signing ceremony. He added that the company would continue to maintain an open-door approach that encourages dialogue between management and union representatives.
The collective agreement sets out terms intended to guide relations between management and professional staff, including provisions on staff welfare and professional development. The union welcomed the agreement as a signal of improving labour relations within the company.
Morgan Ayawine, General Secretary of the Industrial and Commercial Workers’ Union, said modern unions increasingly work with management to support organisational growth rather than focusing solely on negotiations. He urged management to ensure the agreement is implemented in line with Ghana’s labour laws and called for continued dialogue to address workplace concerns.
The deputy managing director responsible for marketing at CMC, Barnett Quaicoo, said the company values the cooperation shown by the union during negotiations and intends to maintain a collaborative relationship.
Human Resource Manager Portia Edna Adjei described organised labour as a strategic partner in staff development, adding that cooperation between management and unions contributes to organisational stability.
Representing the Professional and Managerial Staff Union, chairman Sampson Kwaku Amoako said the agreement demonstrates a shared commitment to strengthening labour relations and improving staff welfare at the company.
The Cocoa Marketing Company is responsible for the marketing and export of cocoa beans on behalf of the Ghana Cocoa Board, the state agency that oversees the country’s cocoa sector, one of the largest contributors to Ghana’s export earnings.
