Don’t sell cocoa lands for ‘galamsey’ — Minister
The Deputy Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Hon. Lawyer Bright Wireko Brobbey has appealed passionately to cocoa farmers to resist the temptation of either giving up their cocoa farmlands to farm other cash crops or for illegal small-scale mining, popularly called ‘galamsey’.
According to him, galamsey is illegal and should not be tolerated admitting that even though the benefits of diversifying were enticing in the short-term, they were not sustainable when compared to cocoa farming in the long run.
The Deputy Minister made the call when he delivered key note address at annual general meeting and t 10th anniversary celebration of KOKOO PA farmers Association in Kumasi on Friday December 13, 2019 under the theme “10 years of better farming practices an insurance for sustainable livelihoods for the next decade and beyond”.
Hon. Wireko Brobbey asked the farmers not to be lured by ‘galamsey’ operators who promise them immediate windfalls or bow to pressure from chiefs or other such actors to give up their lands for ‘galamsey’ activities.
Hon. Wireko Brobbey who is also the Member of Parliament for Heman, Lower Denkyira Constituency in the Central Region assured cocoa farmers of better days ahead for the sector, explaining that the government held cocoa farmers in high esteem and was committed to improving their livelihoods.
“It will be a shame for an otherwise hardworking farmer to miss out on the good times ahead because of a decision to give up land for ‘galamsey’,” he said.
KOKOO PA CEO’s commendation
On his part the Executive Director of the association Mr Fred Amponsah commended the cocoa farmers for their hard work and encouraged them to do more.
He recounted some of the achievements of the Association as being able to make the cocoa industry more attractive to the youth, increasing cocoa production and given frequent and prompt premium to farmers.
20 farmers were awarded with various items including, television sets, wellington boots etc for their hard work.
The overall award winner went to a 58 year old cocoa farmer, Mad. Hannah Asantewaa from Tepa. She took away double decker fridge, TV and other farming production.
Source: Ghana/otecfmghana.com/Paul Asabere Pinamang
