The Ghana National Cocoa Farmers Association has expressed deep concern over the escalating destruction of cocoa farms due to illegal mining activities, commonly known as galamsey.
This follows complaints by members of the Association from Akyem Asafo in the Eastern Region, highlighting the alleged seizure of some 860 acres of cocoa farms by the community’s chief.
The affected farmers stress that this situation poses a significant threat to their livelihoods.
In an interview with Citi News, the president of the Association, Anane Boateng, accused COCOBOD of neglecting the concerns raised by its contributing members.
“For a long time that we have been hearing cocoa farms being destroyed by illegal miners, not a single day has COCOBOD stepped in and helped us take a case to court, and on several occasions, we have reported them, but they have not done anything. COCOBOD is there looking for money to buy our cocoa, andthat is the episode. They don’t have anything better for us.”
Mr. Anane warns that the association may be compelled to take matters into their own hands if they come across a case of illegal miners destroying cocoa farms anywhere in the country.
“We are taking a decision, and we will take revenge on any situation that is not right, and any place that galamsey activities will be going on, we will move in to revenge.”
