- Chamber of Agribusiness to protest galamsey destruction of farmlands.
- 1.2 million hectares of farmland destroyed, affecting 17 million people.
- Chamber demands presidential action to stop galamsey.
- Unchecked galamsey may lead to ban on Ghana's agricultural exports.
The Chamber of Agribusiness is planning a demonstration to protest the destruction of agricultural farmlands by illegal miners, also known as galamsey operators.
The Chamber claims that over 1.2 million hectares of farmland have been destroyed, causing concern among investors about the future of their agribusiness ventures.
CEO Anthony Morrison expressed frustration that despite repeated complaints, illegal miners continue to ravage the land in pursuit of resources like gold.
Morrison stated that people’s investments have been lost due to illegal mining and galamsey activities, and the Chamber is working on a call to action, followed by a press release and demonstration.
The Chamber demands immediate action from the president to reverse the trend, citing the loss of trust due to the failure to protect the livelihood of over 57% of the rural population involved in agriculture.
Morrison emphasized that 17 million people are directly affected by the destruction of agricultural farmlands.
The Chamber plans to launch various activities, including petitioning the Food and Agriculture Organization and other international bodies to pressure the president into taking swift action.
Morrison expressed concerns about the potential prohibition of agricultural exports from Ghana if the situation continues unchecked.
He believes action needs to be taken to boost investment in the agricultural sector and prevent prospective investors from being deterred by galamsey activities.
Morrison urged for an immediate stop to galamsey activities to protect investments and ensure the future of agriculture in Ghana.
