The Member of Parliament for Offinso South, Isaac Yaw Opoku, has urged cocoa farmers in the Ahafo Region not to surrender their farmlands to illegal miners, popularly known as galamsey operators, amid ongoing challenges in the cocoa sector.
Opoku made the appeal during the Minority Caucus in Parliament’s visit to the Ahafo Region, aimed at gaining first-hand insight into the difficulties faced by farmers, particularly delays in government payments for purchased cocoa beans.
He also called on the government to urgently address farmers’ concerns to help sustain the sector and protect their livelihoods.
“As you are aware, Ghana is the second largest producer in the whole world. Now other countries are threatening to overtake us, and farmers all over the country are threatening to abandon their cocoa farms. Some are even threatening to give their cocoa farms out to Galamseyers.
“Others are threatening to cut them down and replant other crops. So my advice to them is not to do the unthinkable. You know, we know good times are ahead…nobody should give his, his or her farm out to Galamsey operators. Nobody should cut their cocoa farm down,” he urged
Meanwhile, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has disbursed approximately GH¢4.2 billion to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) for onward payment to cocoa farmers who have been owed since November last year.
The payments form part of efforts to clear outstanding arrears within the cocoa sector and restore confidence among farmers and industry players.
