A staggering 500 hectares of cocoa farms lie in ruins at Oppong Valley in the Western Region, once a stronghold of cocoa cultivation now reduced to a state of devastation.
What was once a thriving hub for cocoa production has now transformed into a mining zone, leaving local citizens deeply concerned about the environmental and economic impacts.
In a recent interview with United Television (UTV), Kofi Agyekum, a concerned resident, detailed the tragic turn of events that led to this catastrophe.
“Oppong Valley used to be untouched by galamsey activities, a beautiful landscape dotted with flourishing cocoa farms owned by families yielding abundant harvests,” lamented Agyekum. “Unfortunately, the arrival of galamsey operators brought destruction through the use of harmful chemicals, rendering Kwame Nkrumah’s once-recognizable land unrecognizable.”
Agyekum went further to highlight the complicity of both local and high-ranking government officials in facilitating these illegal activities.
“Behind the scenes, there are influential individuals directing and supporting these illegal miners, making it a daunting challenge to put an end to this destructive cycle,” he emphasised, underscoring the magnitude of the issue that now plagues Oppong Valley and its inhabitants.
Watch video below:
Over 500 hectares of cocoa farm destroyed to make way for galamsey at Oppong Valley in the Western Region#UTVNews pic.twitter.com/Sq1xyRPwvE
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) April 3, 2024