- 100,000 acres of cocoa farms destroyed by illegal mining.
- Farmers urge government to act to protect livelihoods.
- State of emergency called for in affected areas.
- Cocoa production severely impacted.
The Mankrom Cocoa Cooperative Farmers Association has sounded the alarm on the devastating impact of illegal mining on cocoa farms in Ghana.
According to the association, over 100,000 acres of cocoa farms have been destroyed due to illegal mining activities.
The farmers are urging the government to take immediate action to halt the destruction and protect their livelihoods.
The president of the association emphasized the urgent need for government intervention, stating that the cocoa board is currently powerless to stop the destruction.
He expressed frustration that despite the severity of the issue, the government seems unaware of the extent of the damage.
The association president noted that even the government’s rebranding of illegal mining as “community mining” has not addressed the problem.
In fact, he argued that community mining is simply a euphemism for the same destructive practices. The destruction of over 100,000 acres of farmland has significantly impacted cocoa production, with many farmers struggling to recover from the loss.
The association president called for the government to declare a state of emergency in areas affected by illegal mining and establish a commission to investigate and develop a sustainable blueprint for mining in Ghana.
He warned that without decisive action, lives and properties will continue to be affected by the scourge of illegal mining.
