PBC workers cry out over 27 months of unpaid salaries

Pressure is mounting on the government to deliver on its promise to revive PBC Limited after workers revealed they have gone more than 27 months without receiving salaries, deepening concerns about the future of one of Ghana’s oldest cocoa purchasing firms.

In a statement issued on June 11, 2026, employees of the struggling company accused the government of failing to act on repeated commitments to restore PBC Limited to its former position as a leading force in Ghana’s cocoa industry.

The workers’ appeal comes months after John Dramani Mahama and Cassiel Ato Forson publicly pledged to reposition the company as the country’s premier licensed cocoa buying firm.

According to the unions representing workers, expectations for a turnaround grew significantly during the 2024 election campaign when President Mahama visited cocoa-growing communities including Enchi, Debiso, Sefwi Wiawso and Kumasi, where he promised to restore PBC to its former prominence.

The workers said similar assurances were repeated after the elections and again earlier this year, raising hopes that the company’s longstanding challenges would finally be addressed.

However, they argue that conditions have continued to deteriorate.

“Workers have gone without salary payment for more than 27 months,” the unions stated, highlighting the severe financial hardship facing employees and their families.

The workers say PBC remains weighed down by significant financial constraints, particularly inadequate working capital, which has severely affected its ability to compete effectively in Ghana’s cocoa purchasing sector.

PBC, once one of the dominant buyers of cocoa beans across the country, has struggled in recent years amid mounting debts, operational difficulties, and declining market share.

The unions contend that without immediate financial intervention, the company’s prospects could worsen further.

Workers also expressed concern about the government's takeover of the Buipe Shea Processing Factory, a wholly owned subsidiary of PBC.

While acknowledging the importance of state intervention where necessary, the unions argued that the arrangement should not leave PBC carrying financial liabilities linked to the facility.

“The facility be returned to PBC LTD, or the associated debt be taken off the books of the company,” the workers demanded.

They believe resolving the issue could significantly improve the company’s financial position and support efforts to restore its operations.

The statement paints a troubling picture of employee welfare across the company.

According to the unions, some drivers earn approximately GH¢1,000 per month, while clerical staff receive between GH¢1,200 and GH¢1,500 monthly.

Even senior employees with master's degrees and professional qualifications reportedly earn between GH¢2,050 and GH¢3,500 per month.

Workers further disclosed that there have been no salary increments for more than ten years.

Casual workers, they said, have gone over 36 months without receiving allowances, with some reportedly earning as little as GH¢350 per month.

The unions argue that these conditions have become unsustainable, especially amid rising living costs and economic pressures.

In an emotional appeal, workers urged President Mahama to intervene immediately and fulfil his pledge to rescue the company.

They warned that the prolonged salary delays are having devastating consequences on the lives of employees and their dependents.

“Staff are dying from an inability to afford hospital bills; we cannot pay our wards’ school fees, and feeding our families has become next to impossible,” the statement said.

The workers stressed that the government’s commitment to job creation should include protecting existing jobs at PBC rather than allowing the company to collapse.

“You promised to create jobs; please do not collapse an existing one,” the unions appealed.

The workers are calling on the government to move beyond public assurances and implement concrete measures to restore the company’s financial health, clear salary arrears, and strengthen its operations.

Industry observers note that the future of PBC remains significant to Ghana’s cocoa sector, given the company's historical role in cocoa purchasing, rural employment, and support for farming communities.

As pressure continues to build, many employees and stakeholders will be looking to government for swift action to address the crisis and safeguard the livelihoods of hundreds of workers.