Cocoa farmers in the Suaman District of the Western North Region have appealed to the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Randy Abbey, to intervene urgently as illegal mining activities continue to destroy their farms and threaten their only source of livelihood.
The farmers made the call during a durbar at Ganyorkrom, held in honour of the COCOBOD CEO as part of his regional tour to engage cocoa stakeholders and assess sector-wide challenges.
The farmers described the situation as dire, citing the encroachment of illegal miners on cocoa farms, the destruction of arable land, and the pollution of water bodies as alarming developments that could cripple the local cocoa economy.
“Our cocoa farms are all we have, but these illegal miners are destroying everything,” one farmer stated, adding that if no action is taken, the community could soon lose its primary economic activity.
They urged Dr. Abbey to use his office to advocate stronger government action against illegal mining and called for more protection and support to safeguard cocoa-growing communities in the district.
In his response, Dr. Abbey expressed deep concern over the impact of galamsey on cocoa production and livelihoods. He assured the farmers that their complaints would be forwarded to the relevant state authorities.
He also criticized the previous administration for failing to complete even one-third of the national cocoa rehabilitation programme, despite exhausting the allocated resources.
Dr. Abbey reaffirmed COCOBOD’s commitment to protecting the interests of cocoa farmers and preserving the cocoa sector, which he described as a national treasure and a vital pillar of Ghana’s economy.
The Suaman District, like many others in the Western North Region, has become a hotspot for illegal mining, raising fears about environmental degradation and the long-term viability of cocoa farming.
Farmers in the area are hopeful that the CEO’s visit will lead to urgent government intervention and the restoration of their lands.