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0 The President of the Concerned Farmers Association of Ghana, Nana Oboadie Boateng Bonsu, has warned cocoa farmers against giving out their farms to illegal miners, stressing that such actions could lead to prosecution and imprisonment.
Speaking in an interview on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Wednesday, Nana Oboadie said the Association will not hesitate to report any farmer found collaborating with galamsey operators.
He added that the illegal miners involved will also face punishment under the law.
“If you’re a farmer and you give your cocoa farm to a galamsey operator or a miner, we will report you to the police and then you go to jail. And the miner, too, will be going to jail because the cocoa tree belongs to the state. And cocoa is for the state. It is not for a person,” he stressed.
Nana Oboadie expressed alarm over the increasing destruction of cocoa farms by illegal mining activities, warning that Ghana could lose its cocoa heritage if urgent steps are not taken.
“Our cocoa trees are going. Others are inside destroying it,” he lamented.
He cited incidents in cocoa-growing communities such as Abrafo, where farms are reportedly being devastated by small-scale illegal mining operations.
The Concerned Farmers Association says it is seeking an urgent meeting with President John Dramani Mahama to address the growing threat of galamsey to cocoa production.
He warned that failure to act swiftly could escalate the crisis.
His comments come amid reports that some cocoa farmers, frustrated by economic challenges, have threatened to sell their farms to illegal miners. In contrast, others have considered smuggling cocoa beans to neighbouring countries.
However, Nana Oboadie dismissed concerns about cocoa smuggling, noting that Ghana currently offers the most competitive cocoa prices in West Africa.
“With now, there’s nothing like smuggling because, looking at the West African cocoa price, Ghana is leading. We are now the most expensive cocoa beans,” he explained.
He believes this development will discourage farmers from attempting to smuggle their produce across borders.
