Illegal mining endangering cocoa production

The Managing Director of Solidaridad West Africa, Mr. Isaac Gyamfi, has called for concerted efforts to tackle the threat posed to the nation’s cocoa production by illegal gold mining.

He said the danger is real and must never be underestimated, adding that decisive action must be taken to deal with it.

Solidaridad is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO) engaged in the training of farmer groups in six countries of the sub-region, to increase agriculture production.

Mr. Gyamfi said the situation wherein cocoa trees are being cut down to make way for digging the precious mineral will undoubtedly hurt production levels.

He was speaking at a farmers’ forum held at Tepa in the Ahafo-Ano North District by “Kookoopa”, a farmers’ association.

He said the nation will pay the cost for the disturbing degradation of vegetation.

Mr. Gyamfi advised the farmers to adopt improved farming practices to raise crop yields and returns.
He announced a project dubbed “Youth in cocoa business” his organisation has launched to encourage young people into farming, and to aid them see this as a rewarding business.

Under it, he said, they will be trained in best farming practices and assisted to acquire farm lands, and therefore appealed to chiefs and other land owners for support.

GNA