The illegal small-scale mining (Galamsey) menace continues to be a major issue in Ghana, with cocoa farmers in the Ellembelle District expressing their frustration and opposition to the destruction of their cocoa farms and water bodies by illegal miners.
The Executive Director of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor H Kwasi Prempeh, has criticized the lack of leadership in addressing the Galamsey issue, noting that instead of leading the way out of the problem, some leaders are seeking the votes of illegal miners.
The Leader of the Ellembelle Concerned Cocoa Farmers, Benjamin Azachie, highlighted the challenges faced by cocoa farmers in the area and appealed to the Member of Parliament to help stop the forced takeover of cocoa farms by Galamseyers. In response to this situation, Prof Prempeh took to Facebook to express his disappointment in the failure of leadership, stating “Those who must show the way out of galamsey are busy courting the galamsey vote with promises of capitulation.”
Concerns have also been raised by the Western North Regional Chairman for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Michael Aidoo, over the alarming rate at which cocoa farmers are selling their farms to illegal miners. Aidoo criticized the current government for neglecting the cocoa sector, leading to a decline in cocoa production from 900,000 tonnes annually during the tenure of former President John Dramani Mahama to around 500,000 tonnes under the current administration.
Aidoo emphasized the need for government support for cocoa farmers, pointing out that the lack of essential support has had a severe impact on their livelihoods. He also criticized the delay in increasing cocoa prices, which further compounded the farmers’ struggles. Many farmers are nostalgic for the days of Mahama’s presidency, with Aidoo noting that farmers are now crying out for John Mahama as they continue to struggle under the current government.
The issue of Galamsey and its impact on cocoa farming in Ghana remains a pressing concern, with calls for urgent action to address the challenges faced by cocoa farmers and mitigate the environmental damage caused by illegal mining activities.
