A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former Member of Parliament for Bantama, Henry Kwabena Kokofu Esq. has argued that the nation’s cocoa industry is on the verge of collapsing, due to illegal mining, popularly known as Galamsey.
The former Legislator indicated that it is only President Mahama who has the authority to curb the menace, noting that the situation calls for a “positive action”.
According to him, the citizenry gave the President the mandate to exercise this authority in the overwhelming victory to John Dramani Mahama (then a Presidential Candidate) in the 2024 General Elections, due to his campaign promises.
Speaking in an interview with a Kumasi-based radio station, Silver FM, Lawyer Kwabena Kokofu disclosed to the host, William De Bordes (Loving Cee), that Ghana is about to be ranked third, instead of the second she had occupied over the years in the world, for the production of cocoa.
He attributed the development to illegal mining activities, mentioning that the adverse effects of galamsey is evident in other staple foods, which now contain hazardous chemicals like mercury and lead.
He stressed that farmers would never forgive the Mahama-led government if galamsey is allowed to destroy their cocoa farms and collapse the cocoa industry.
Lawyer Kokofu argued that “galamseyers” are destroying cocoa farms because the farmers are “willingly” selling their farms to them (galamseyers).
The former Legislator noted that the announcement of Ghana’s sale of USD $6.3 Billion of gold over a period of eight months by the President is a clear indication of his (Mahama) government’s prioritisation of gold over cocoa.
He said the failure of the government to honour his campaign promise of increasing cocoa price from GHC3,100 to GHC6,000 has also discouraged farmers, hence smuggling of cocoa to neighbouring countries is on the increase.
He argued that the methods being used to mine gold amounts are destroying the nation’s food composition table.
Lawyer Kokofu, therefore, urged President John Dramani Mahama to fight the menace, because he is the only person to fight galamsey.
Touching on the nomination of Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie as the next Chief Justice, Lawyer Kokofu indicated that he (Baffoe-Bonnie) is the right candidate for the job, hoping and praying he executes his duties diligently.
He disclosed that the NPP was in the process of restructuring the party as well as resolving its internal issues, and would emerge with a “stronger front” to recapture power in the 2028 General Elections.
From Oswald P. Freiku, Kumasi
