Accra, May 5, GNA- The Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association Limited (GCCFA), a farmer-based organization, has held a dialogue on illegal mining (galamsey) in Amenfi Central district in the Western North Region with a call on cocoa farmers to join the fight against illegal mining in their communities.
The dialogue, supported by ECOCare Ghana a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Ghana, aimed to promote farmer-led action and media partnership to combat illegal mining in the district and region.
The dialogue dubbed, “Empowering Cocoa Farmers and Media to kick against Illegal Mining,” implemented activities such as community sensitisation forum, radio talk shows and media capacity building workshops.
National President of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association Limited (GCCFA), Issifu Issaka, said the dialogue was to educate farmers on the environmental and social impacts of illegal mining and promote peaceful prevention strategies across Western and Western North Regions.
He highlighted challenges illegal mining was causing in these communities including river pollution, destruction of cocoa farms, deforestation, and abandoned pits posing safety risks.
He appealed to farmer leaders to adopt joint monitoring efforts, enforce land reclamation initiatives and support rehabilitation initiative by the government.
Nicholas Kwabena Gbadago, Amenfi Central district Union Secretary lauded the (GCCFA) for the engagement, mentioning that this dialogue would help disabuse farmers thinking about selling their land to illegal miners.
Ahead of the new cocoa season, the Voice of The African Farmer Platform visited the Amenfi Central Cocoa District to engage farmers ahead of the season.
The Voice of The African Farmer Platform has resolved to highlight the plights of farmers as well as engage the relevant authorities to address the situation.
Founder, Nana Yaw Reuben Jnr said, “the visit to these communities is to see how farmers are faring in their work. Most of the policies we heard will be implemented by government and policy makers, are yet to materialize.”
Farmers in the Amenfi Central district are meanwhile appealing to the government to expand the cocoa scholarship schemes as well as fix their roads to help sustain the cocoa value chain in Amenfi and across the district .
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba
May 5, 2026