The sports category has moved to a new website.

COCOBOD CEO, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, bemoans destruction of cocoa farms by illegal miners

The Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, has bemoaned the rate at which illegal smallscale miners destroy cocoa farms in the country.

Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Joseph Boahen Aidoo

Illegal mining in Ghana is popularly referred to as galamsey.

The CEO appealed to the security agencies to deal with illegal miners whose activities are destroying cocoa farms.

He said this when he went on a tour to inspect an ongoing mass pruning exercise in some parts of the Eastern Region.

During the tour, the team realised that what used to be arable land has now become a scene of devastation.

ADVERTISEMENT

Speaking to journalists, Mr Boahen Aidoo, said the destruction of “the backbone of the economy” is “very very sad”.

“You can see around the way illegal miners – galamsey operators – have devastated, not just the land, but the cocoa farm which used to be here,” the COCOBOD Boss said in his condemnation of the situation. “…now everything is gone. They’ve just destroyed everything. They’ve devastated this land and then the cocoa which is the backbone of the country. So, more or less, it is the economy of the country which is being destroyed. These are clear saboteurs of Ghana.”

Galamsey is one of the major challenges faced by cocoa farmers and many other sectors. The menace is also a threat to the investments made by the government to modernize cocoa farming and increase yields

“The president has called upon all of us to desist from illegal mining; to stay away from Galamsey, yet, you have recalcitrant citizens who are still bent on illegal mining,” Mr Boahen Aidoo bemoaned.

“I think this used to be somebody’s farm. The person has toiled, sweated over the years to grow this cocoa. …they just destroyed everything. And if you can get people in Ghana to be destroying our own economy; the backbone of the economy. Then what is the fate of this country? It’s sad and I think the security agencies will have to step up their operations on these illegal miners because if we are not careful, they will destroy the entire cocoa industry.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Mr Boahen Aidoo called on the security agencies to intensify their fight against galamsey.

“[When] they come [and] farmers are not interested in giving their lands, then the next time they go to their farms, they find that the farms have already been invaded and then vandalised. So, I’m using this opportunity to call on the security agencies to step up their efforts in dealing with galamsey. It’s sad. It’s very very sad to come and see the toil of farmers rendered to this state. It’s very sad,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: news@pulselive.co.ke

Recommended articles

African countries with the highest divorce rate

African countries with the highest divorce rate

10 African cities with the highest crime index at the start of 2024

10 African cities with the highest crime index at the start of 2024

Machoka at 70: Emotions run high during Citizen TV presenter's birthday [Video]

Machoka at 70: Emotions run high during Citizen TV presenter's birthday [Video]

Diwali 2022: Is Monday a public holiday in Kenya?

Diwali 2022: Is Monday a public holiday in Kenya?

Akothee finally reveals reasons for separating from Omosh 1 month after wedding

Akothee finally reveals reasons for separating from Omosh 1 month after wedding

Man, once a ‘billionaire’, recounts how he lost wealth, now sells his book on streets [Video]

Man, once a ‘billionaire’, recounts how he lost wealth, now sells his book on streets [Video]

Details of Ngina Kenyatta's luxurious restaurant

Details of Ngina Kenyatta's luxurious restaurant

Zero Chills! Jackie Matubia's advice for Milly Chebby amid the unfollow drama

Zero Chills! Jackie Matubia's advice for Milly Chebby amid the unfollow drama

Nigerian royal dignitaries, including four kings and a queen, expected to attend Museveni’s 50th wedding anniversary celebrations

Nigerian royal dignitaries, including four kings and a queen, expected to attend Museveni’s 50th wedding anniversary celebrations

ADVERTISEMENT