The Minister of Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has dismissed concerns that galamsey is destroying cocoa lands in Ghana.
According to the Minister, evidence available to him based on a survey conducted by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) indicates that only two per cent of arable cocoa land in Ghana has been affected by galamsey.
“For me, in terms of acreages, it is not much and I have the evidence. COCOBOD did a survey and they are saying that 2% of land under cocoa has been destroyed by galamsey. 2% is nothing,” Dr Akoto said.
He added: “And cocoa is concentrated in the gold belt, so if you extend it to the north in terms of total, it is not much,”
His comments come as lands, forests and water bodies across the country are being destroyed by illegal, small scale mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Despite numerous promises by the government, nothing has been done to significantly alter the practice.
Recently, there have been reports that galamsey is affecting the quality of cocoa beans produced in Ghana, which may lead to the European Union deciding not to import cocoa from Ghana in the future.
However, the European Union has dismissed those reports.
The Union Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaarly, said new laws passed by the EU regarding imports are only targeted at promoting sustainable cocoa production and ensuring that cocoa and other commodities are produced in a socially environmental sustainable way.
Speaking during the second Edition of Orange Cocoa Day 2022 in Accra, the European Union Ambassador to Ghana, Irchad Razaarly, said the move must not be seen as a threat to Ghana’s cocoa sector.
“The call for more sustainable cocoa production is growing globally. And our citizens in Europe are increasingly demanding measures for ensuring that cocoa and other commodities are produced in a socially environmental sustainable way. This explains EU’s legislation on afforestation and forest degradation and must not be seen as a threat to Ghana’s cocoa.
“There is no ban on Ghana’s cocoa. On the contrary, we want more of Ghana’s cocoa, and we are in support of Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire amongst all of the producers who meet these requirements,” he said.
Source: theGhanaianVoice.Com