The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) has warned that Ghana risks losing its enviable position as the world's second largest cocoa producer if strict measures to protect cocoa estates from illegal mining activities are not implemented.
The warning comes after the Ghana Cocoa Board's Chief Executive Officer, Joseph Boahen Aidoo, revealed that the body repaid $250 million it received from the African Development Bank for irrigation reasons in cocoa farms due to contamination of water bodies in farming areas.
Ghana is currently the world's second largest cocoa producer, after Ivory Coast. Ghana also produces the world's premium cocoa beans, making the country's commodity the most desired.
The General Secretary of GAWU, Edward Kareweh said other countries are making strong efforts to overtake Ghana in cocoa production by developing sustainable environmental practices. He stated that more farmers are abandoning their farms due to the level of water pollution in farm areas.
“It’s no more lucrative to be in cocoa production. There are many factors which are real. Even the cocoa farmers who are patriotic and insist that they will not sell their farms and stay with their farms are forced to sell them out”. He disclosed that while government looks on unconcern, illegal miners are forcibly ceasing cocoa farms with impunity for mining. Mr. Kareweh said contaminated water bodies are diverted to cocoa farms, destroying the plants.
“The illegal miners will flood your farms with all the dirty water and will take your farm by force. You cannot even enter the farm again. It is so pathetic and heartbreaking that we can sit down and allow such a monumental criminal act to continue. This crime is against generations to come”.
Sounding distressed, Mr. Kareweh said it is a matter of time for Ghana to lose its production capacity and long good will as the country with the premium cocoa beans.
