Former Deputy Minister of State for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo, says some cocoa farmers are being forced to sell their farms to illegal miners because of what he describes as poor cocoa prices.
Speaking on Atinka TV’s Ghana Nie – Flagship, hosted by Nana Yaw Fianko, he said the situation was putting the future of Ghana’s cocoa industry at risk.
According to him, the reduction in cocoa prices has made farming difficult for many farmers, leaving some with little choice but to sell their farms to illegal miners, popularly known as galamseyers.
He criticised the government’s management of the cocoa sector, arguing that some officials responsible for the industry lack sufficient knowledge and experience in farming.
Hon. Frimpong Addo also expressed concern about the new COCOBOD Legislative Instrument (LI), saying it could restrict the operations of the Ghana Cocoa Board and affect farmers.
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He warned that continued illegal mining could eventually make it difficult for cocoa to be grown in the seven regions that currently produce the crop.
He therefore called for greater use of technology in mining to extract gold while reducing damage to farmlands and the environment.
“I suggest government brings in more technology to extract gold from the soil to avoid degradation,” he said.
He urged the government to take urgent steps to protect cocoa farms and improve the conditions of farmers to safeguard the future of the industry.
Watch Full Interview here: Ghana Nie – Flagship
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com