Mr. Felix Ayambire, the Coordinator for Fair Trade Ghana Network, has called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to develop a clear and actionable roadmap to tackle illegal mining.
He said while the Network had undertaken research, policy engagements and advocacy on illegal mining over the past year, the persistence of the menace underscored the need for coordinated interventions that delivered measurable results on the ground.
The Coordinator was speaking at a meeting organised by the Fair Trade Ghana Network, Fair Trade Africa and the European Union in Accra, on the theme, “Meeting on the Impact of Illegal Mining on Cocoa Farming.”
Mr. Ayambire said the Network last year organised a policy brief engagement to present findings from research conducted in illegal mining communities and subsequently developed and disseminated a policy brief outlining recommendations for addressing the problem.
“Beyond the policy brief documentation and dissemination, we need to have real action on the ground,” he added.
He said although many institutions were working to combat illegal mining, greater coordination would help harmonise efforts and produce better outcomes.
Mr. Ayambire highlighted the devastating impact of illegal mining on agriculture, particularly cocoa production, saying farmers continued to bear the brunt of environmental degradation caused by the practice.
He said curbing illegal mining would help improve cocoa production and have positive effects on the cocoa sector, including addressing concerns over production and pricing.
The Coordinator expressed hope that by the end of the year, stakeholders would be able to demonstrate tangible progress rather than simply producing more reports and holding discussions.
Madam Emelia Nmai, Principal Programme Officer, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, said the new intervention being implemented by the Ministry was the recently launched Responsible Community Mining and Skills Development Programme for small-scale miners.
She said the Ministry recognised that small-scale mining could not be eliminated entirely, however, their objective was to ensure that it was conducted responsibly and within the regulatory framework.
“By equipping miners with modern mining equipment, strengthening regulatory compliance, and providing skills development and vocational training opportunities for those who wish to diversify their livelihoods, we believe we can significantly reduce the negative impact of illegal mining,” she added.
Madam Nmai stressed that the ultimate goal was to promote responsible mining practices that protected Ghana’s water bodies, safeguarded lands, and ensured that mining contributed to sustainable national development rather than environmental degradation.
Mr. Michael Kwateng, Head, Cocoa Protection, COCOBOD, called for stronger collaboration between COCOBOD, cocoa farmer groups, traditional leaders and local communities to combat illegal mining and protect cocoa farms from destruction.
He said cocoa production depended on farmers, making it imperative for COCOBOD to work closely with farmer associations and cooperatives to safeguard cocoa-growing areas from the growing threat of illegal mining.
“Some farmers have already demonstrated commitment by mobilising security personnel to protect cocoa farms, with COCOBOD providing support to complement their efforts,” he added.
He acknowledged that preventing illegal miners from invading cocoa farms remained a major challenge but noted that joint efforts between COCOBOD and farmers had helped save a number of plantations from destruction.
Mr. Kwateng urged chiefs and opinion leaders, many of whom were cocoa farmers themselves, to use their influence to prevent illegal mining activities in their communities.
He observed that illegal miners and even licensed mining operators could not acquire concessions in communities without the knowledge of traditional authorities, making their involvement critical in the fight against the menace.
He appealed for greater financial support for anti-illegal mining interventions, explaining that while the government continued to provide funding, available resources remained inadequate to sustain enforcement and public education campaigns.
“Additional support will enable COCOBOD and its partners to intensify sensitisation programmes across cocoa-growing regions and strengthen efforts to protect cocoa farms,” he stressed.
Mr. Kwateng encouraged cocoa cooperatives and farmer groups to organise community education programmes to discourage members, particularly the youth, from engaging in illegal mining.
By Edward Dankwah
