The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has expressed the need for Ghanaians to support the fight against ‘galamsey’ in cocoa growing areas.
According to the Board, fighting against the menace of illegal mining is a form of deliberately protecting the national pride.
Director of Research, Dr Francis Baah, indicated that Ghanaians must take advantage of the niche crop and protect it for posterity.
“Cocoa continues to be our national pride and we must deliberately protect it. It has a great measure of nutritional and health benefits, and it must be made part of the daily meals of all. Let’s take advantage of this niche crop and protect it for posterity. Let’s support the fight against galamsey in cocoa growing areas by joining in sensitizing farmers about the economic, nutritional and health benefits derived from cocoa cultivation as against the immediate benefits that galamsey seeks to promise.”
Dr Francis Baah
Dr Baah explained that although improving the incomes of farmers have not been smooth, the Board will not relent in putting up a fight against galamsey. He emphasized that COCOBOD “will not bow to the incessant pressure from saboteurs” on its efforts, particularly, the Living Income Differential (LID) pricing mechanism which Ghana, Ivory Coast and lately, Nigeria have agreed to adopt in selling cocoa beans.
“We have used several platforms to make a case for this new pricing mechanism since 2018 when the idea of improving upon the impoverished condition of cocoa farmers was birthed. However, it appears many of the trade houses and other agencies are thwarting our efforts at achieving the full realization of the LID.”
Dr Francis Baah
Ghana’s cocoa sector
The Director of Research at COCOBOD highlighted that the survival of Ghana’s cocoa sector, going forward is linked to how much the nation would be able to add value to its cocoa beans locally to boost consumption. He indicated that the Board“came up with a policy in 2018 to ensure that at least 50% of cocoa produced annually is processed”.
“We have indeed made gains by achieving 40% over the last five years of intensive campaigns and stakeholder engagements. But that does not seem enough as the country’s per capita consumption has slightly improved to 0.56kg. Although not too encouraging, the indication is positive indeed.”
Dr Francis Baah
The devastation of cocoa farmlands has been a cause of concern for stakeholders. The Minister of Agriculture Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, in October this year, revealed that only 2% of cocoa lands have been affected by the activities of illegal minng, also called galamsey.
He noted that ‘galamseyers’ are not only causing devastation in forest areas but beginning to impact adversely on cocoa production figures.
Dr. Akoto expressed grave concern about the water pollution that comes with the use of chemicals like cyanide and mercury, which could end up in the food that is produced in these mining areas.
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