President John Dramami Mahama has made a compelling appeal for legislation to protect Ghana’s cocoa farms from the devastating effects of illegal mining, also known as Galamsey.
Speaking at a meeting with cocoa farmers at the Jubilee House on Thursday, March 27, Mahama emphasized the immense economic and social value of cocoa farming, highlighting its role in preserving Ghana’s agricultural heritage and securing the livelihoods of countless cocoa farmers.
Mahama’s plea underscores the urgent need to safeguard the country’s cocoa plantations, which are under constant threat from illegal mining operations.
He argued that the long-term benefits of maintaining cocoa plantations far outweigh the short-lived financial gains of mining.
“If you plant cocoa on the land, every year, it will yield revenue and a cocoa tree can last 30 years or more and produce money every year,” he explained.
He further emphasized the importance of prioritizing agriculture over mining in certain areas, citing the lifespan and economic sustainability of cocoa trees.
“So it makes more sense to leave that gold under the ground and rather depend on your cocoa tree than to mine the ground and make it useless to our children and our children’s children,” he stated.
He concluded by advocating for laws that prevent people from cutting down cocoa trees for mining, saying,
“And so I will encourage and I was saying that maybe we should pass laws that prevent people from cutting down cocoa trees for mining.”
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