Cocoa is regarded as the mainstay and cornerstone of the Ghanaian economy. Cocoa alone generates about $2 billion in foreign exchange annually for Ghana. It is also the major contributor to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Ghana’s ability to produce quality Cocoa has awarded her the second-largest cocoa-producing country in the whole world. Hence, the economic reward for Cocoa is enormous and can never be ignored.
Illegal mining popularly known as ‘galamsey’ has been recognized as the biggest threat to Cocoa production in Ghana over some years now. The adverse impacts of ‘galamsey’ include aggravated soil erosion, chemical contamination of surface and underground water, air pollution, physiological disorders in crop plants and low yields, food price hikes and high cost of living, displacement and general increase in air and water-borne diseases.
‘Galamsey’ has a significant impact on cocoa farming in Ghana. The practice of ‘galamsey’ leads to various challenges among cocoa farmers, including labor shortages, water pollution, competition for land, and reduced crop production. It operations near cocoa farms result in flooding which leads to the spread of diseases and stunted growth of cocoa plants, ultimately reducing the output of cocoa farms.
Additionally the contamination of freshwater sources by ‘galamsey’ activities affects the quality of water used for irrigation, further impacting cocoa farming. These negative impacts on cocoa farming have a direct impact on the income and livelihoods of cocoa farmers, as cocoa farming is their primary source of income.
The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) on 7th June, 2021 admitted that ‘galamsey’ destroys at least 20 acres of cocoa farms in the Sefwi-Wiawso, Juaboso, Bia and Akotombra areas in the Western North Region, an area that constitute the largest percentage of Ghana’s cocoa production.
The Ghanaian media have consistently disseminated information on the high rate at which cocoa farmers sell their farms to ‘galamseyers’ for some amount money. Other farmers do not sell their farms but rather have their farms forcefully taken away from them by these same ‘galamseyers’.
As a result, Ghana’s cocoa output for the 2023/24 season is almost 40% below a target of 820,000 metric tonnes when global cocoa prices hit US$ 10,000 per tonnes. In the first four months of 2024, Ghana’s trade balance narrowed after cocoa exports dropped. On a year-on-year comparison, cocoa output fell by about 50%. This information is sourced from Citi Newsroom on June 24th,2024.
The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) have already prophesied that, Ghana could lose its enviable position as the second leading cocoa producer in the world if stringent measures are not taken to protect cocoa farms from illegal mining activities. The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has also painted a gloomy picture of the potential loss of Ghana’s premium position in the international cocoa market due to activities of illegal mining.
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) have disclosed that, more than 81 and 74 percent of cocoa farmlands had been affected by ‘galamsey’ in the Eastern and Western regions respectively. More than 68 percent of cocoa farm areas have been affected by ‘galamsey’ activities in the Ashanti region.
They further stated that, illegal mining has moved beyond destroying cocoa trees and farmlands to the early dropping of pods, wilting, yellowing of leaves, and the generally low yield on cocoa farms which threatens the sustainability of the cocoa sector.
‘Galamsey’ activities have moved from bad to worse and Ghana as a country finds no commitment to fight the situation. How would Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) survive without incomes from Cocoa production? Have we ever imagined how the Ghanaian economy would look like when we afford to lose incomes associated with Cocoa production? It’s about time we raise up and take our positions as Ghanaians to fight against galamsey.
We can’t continue like this as a country. No! We can’t allow few people to ruin the lives of millions. Our national anthem in Twi sings, “yen ara yen asaase ni”, which means Ghana is ours so we are obligated to protect, preserve and make it comfortable for us to leave in. The time to take action is now, remember, tomorrow waits for no one.
By: Rachael Agyemang Kudzonu
University of Media Arts and Communication – institute of journalism(UNIMAC-IJ)
Rachael2003ag@gmail.com
