Dr. Frank Amoakohene, the Minister-designate for the Ashanti Region, has called for the introduction of free fertilizer distribution and mass spraying initiatives for cocoa farmers in the region. This intervention aims to deter farmers from selling their arable farmlands to illegal miners, commonly known as galamsey operators.
Reports indicate that some cocoa farmers in the Ashanti Region are exchanging their plantations for significant sums of money from miners, jeopardizing cocoa production in the area. This trend poses severe implications for the region’s agricultural sector, particularly its contribution to Ghana’s overall cocoa output.
During his parliamentary vetting, Dr. Amoakohene shared his interactions with cocoa farmers, who revealed that selling their lands to illegal miners offered more financial gains than maintaining cocoa farms. Farmers expressed frustration over the high costs of cocoa production, including expenses for fertilizers and spraying, compared to the relatively low returns on their investments.
“In some areas where I have engaged with farmers who have cut down their cocoa farms to allow mining activities, their primary justification is the higher profitability of galamsey. They explain that after planting cocoa and incurring costs for five years—on fertilizers, spraying, and other inputs—the returns are not as rewarding. As a government, we must take responsibility and make cocoa farming a lucrative venture,” Dr. Amoakohene stated.
He emphasized that providing free fertilizers and instituting mass spraying programs could reduce production costs for farmers and make cocoa cultivation more competitive and sustainable. These measures, he noted, would not only protect cocoa farms from being lost to illegal mining but also reinforce the sector’s contribution to Ghana’s economic growth and food security.
Dr. Amoakohene’s advocacy highlights the pressing need for innovative policies to address the challenges faced by cocoa farmers while safeguarding the nation’s agricultural resources.
