On a show called The Point of View with Bernard Avle, Prof. Michael Kwarteng, Director of the Anti-Corruption Galamsey Unit of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), painted a concerning picture of Ghana's standing in the international cocoa market. He expressed deep concerns over the escalating activities of illegal mining, commonly referred to as “galamsey,” and its detrimental effects on cocoa production in the country.
Prof. Kwarteng's remarks follow a stark warning issued by Henry Kokofu, former Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who raised the alarm about a potential embargo on Ghana's cocoa bean exports due to the rampant illegal mining activities.
Highlighting the risk of losing Ghana's coveted position as a premier cocoa producer, Prof. Kwarteng emphasized the unparalleled quality of Ghanaian cocoa beans on the global stage. He stressed that continued inaction against illegal mining could severely impact the quality of cocoa production, potentially jeopardizing Ghana's reputation as a top cocoa-producing nation.
Addressing concerns raised by the European Union regarding cocoa grown on deforested land, Prof. Kwarteng called for a comprehensive evaluation of the significant benefits derived from cocoa production in Ghana. He underscored the multifaceted contributions of cocoa to the Ghanaian economy, including employment opportunities, infrastructure development, and livelihood support for cocoa farmers.
Expressing solidarity with cocoa farmers grappling with the adverse effects of illegal mining, Prof. Kwarteng lamented the challenges faced in accessing clean water for irrigation due to widespread pollution of water bodies. He emphasized the indispensable role of cocoa production in Ghana's agricultural landscape and urged a collective effort to safeguard the industry's sustainability.
Ghana's cocoa sector has recently faced a decline in production, signaling a pressing need for concerted action to address the underlying challenges, particularly the menace of illegal mining, to preserve the country's status as a leading cocoa producer.
