Illegal Activities Impacting Blue Skies Out-Grower Farms

Blue Skies Ghana Limited, the renowned producer of Blue Skies fruit juice, has reached out to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for assistance in addressing the challenges posed by land guards and illegal sand miners in their operational zones. The company highlighted that these unlawful activities were significantly impacting pineapple cultivation, which serves as their primary raw material.

During the President’s visit to the company’s production site at Dobro near Nsawam in the Eastern region, Ms. Janet Lutterodt, the General Manager, conveyed the company’s plea. She stressed the necessity of seeking help due to the detrimental effects of these activities on their business operations.

Ms. Lutterodt underscored that aside from the illicit activities of sand miners and land guards, the ongoing sale of farmlands to real estate developers was hindering the expansion of their out-grower farms. She lamented the loss of their 200-acre mango plantation due to such actions.

Addressing the land tenure issue affecting the community, Ms. Lutterodt emphasized the unpredictable nature of land ownership, where one could possess land with all legal documents one day, only for it to be sold by a chief the next, leading to legal disputes.

Furthermore, Ms. Lutterodt informed the President about the challenges arising from new regulations mandating the company to establish a Letter of Commitment (LOC) before export.

President Akufo-Addo assured the company that his government would take decisive measures to prevent these negative activities from disrupting their operations. He pledged to implement necessary procedures to facilitate the company’s expansion while also safeguarding the interests of the community.