Employees of the Produce Buying Company (PBC) are amplifying their demands for government intervention as the once-successful cocoa-buying enterprise grapples with increasing inefficiencies and financial distress.
They contend that PBC, a vital entity in Ghana’s cocoa sector, deserves the same level of attention and assistance as the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) during the current economic recovery efforts.
At the forefront of their requests is the urgent appointment of a new CEO to guide the company through its crisis.
Represented by the Pressure Group of PBC Limited, the dissatisfied employees disclosed that their salaries have gone unpaid for several months, posing a significant challenge to their livelihoods and the overall functioning of the company.
In an interview, the Vice Chairman Seth Adusei stressed the necessity of prompt action for the company’s viability.
“PBC should have already appointed a new CEO to reassure the staff that the government is genuinely addressing their concerns, which were overlooked by the previous administration,” he remarked.
He further noted, “Despite COCOBOD’s debt of approximately 32 billion, the government remains actively engaged in its operations. Why, then, is there no similar support for PBC? It has been three to four months since the new administration took office, yet no substantial measures have been implemented to revitalize the company.”
In January 2024, the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) and five other financial institutions secured a court order preventing the sale or transfer of PBC’s assets, including its headquarters at Number 106 Olusegun Obasanjo Way, Dzorwulu Junction, Accra.
Subsequently, PBC employees organized multiple protests regarding their unpaid salaries, which have been outstanding for a year.
