By Ghana News

Copyright ghanamma

Water shortages in key West African cocoa farming areas are allegedly being caused by illegal gold mining that threatens the immediate future of crop production, according to Issifu Issaka, president of Ghana’s Cooperative Cocoa Farmers’ Association, reports Sam Poku and Neill Barston.

The senior industry figure asserted that agricultural workers in the Agona Konyarko in the Central Region of Ghana have expressed considerable concerns on the issue, which has resulted in considerable negative environmental impact.

As our Confectionery Production magazine has previously reported, illegal gold mining operations, known regionally as ‘galamsey’ have blighted many forested areas that have traditionally been used for cocoa growing, as low-earning farmers have been increasingly pressured into selling off, or vacating land for hazardous and unregulated gold mining operations. This has led to government campaigns within farming communities, urging farmers not to sell-up their land to gold speculators.

This major issue in Ghana, was reported first by My Cocoa Business TV Programme during a topical discussion on the theme of “Devastating Results Of Illegal Mining On Cocoa Production and Mortar Existence.”

He told the station that the rate at which toxic chemical substances by illegal miners are impacting communities, requires an urgent full state of emergency to be declared. He stressed that such harmful illegitimate activity was causing significant negative effects on agricultural and forest lands.

According to My Cocoa Business, Issaka explained that residents of Konyarko, especially women, are facing challenges in personal hygiene due to the scarcity of water.

Crucially, he added that in his view, in the next five years, Ghana will drop from the Global Position as the Second Largest producer of cocoa if nothing is done to resolve the situation fully.

Furthermore, he told My Cocoa Business that the government needed to implement more policies that will better increase the standard living of cocoa farmers in the region, with the sector remaining one of its most vital international exports.

Isakka went on to praise Oxfam and other local agencies for developing an advocacy strategy to create further awareness of the damage being caused by illegal mining upon cocoa production in the region.