The Concerned Farmers Association of Ghana (CFA-Ghana) has issued an urgent petition calling on national authorities to intervene in what it describes as an imminent threat to thousands of hectares of cocoa farms in Onaa, a major cocoa producing community within the Juaben Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
The petition, raises alarm over ongoing activities that could permanently cripple livelihoods and damage Ghana’s globally acclaimed cocoa industry.
According to the petition, the crisis stems from a recent claim of ownership by the newly enstooled Chief of Onaa, who is allegedly seeking to convert vast cocoa farmlands into real estate developments.
The association states that concrete pillars have already been installed across parts of the farms, signifying preparations for commercial construction. Farmers fear that without swift intervention, their farms which have sustained generations could soon be lost.
Onaa is recognized as the second-largest cocoa-producing community in the Ashanti Region, contributing significantly to Ghana’s position as one of the world’s leading cocoa exporters. For decades, farmers in the area have maintained extensive cocoa plantations that not only drive local economic activity but also support thousands of families across the Juaben Municipality.
CFA-Ghana emphasized that cocoa farming remains the backbone of Ghana’s rural economy, generating vital foreign exchange and serving as a livelihood for millions nationwide. The destruction of cocoa farms in Onaa, the association argues, would severely undermine national production capacity and affect supply chains critical to Ghana’s economic stability.
Beyond the economic implications, the association raised concerns about the environmental impact of converting cocoa lands into real estate. Cocoa agroforestry systems, it noted, provide essential ecological functions such as biodiversity support, soil protection, and carbon sequestration. Replacing these farms with buildings, CFA-Ghana warned, could result in long-term ecological damage.
In its appeal, CFA-Ghana is urging COCOBOD to exercise its statutory mandate to protect cocoa resources and halt all activities that threaten the plantations. The petition also calls on the Parliament of Ghana to initiate legislative oversight to ensure accountability and to safeguard what the association describes as “irreplaceable agricultural assets.”
The petition, signed by Farmer General Nana Oboadie Boateng Bonsu II, President of CFA-Ghana, stresses the urgency of halting the ongoing developments, conducting a thorough investigation into the legitimacy of the land claims, and reaffirming national commitment to protecting cocoa farmers across Ghana.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
