Tensions escalated on January 11, 2023, in Brofoyedru, Ashanti Region, as a near-violent clash unfolded between the police and the Ghana Cocoa Board’s (COCOBOD) Anti-Illegal Mining team.
The COCOBOD team, engaging with cocoa farmers and miners to combat illegal mining’s harmful effects on cocoa farms, discovered allegations of police officers extorting money from illegal miners.
A confrontation ensued when COCOBOD officials questioned ten police officers returning from illegal mining sites, leading to a pursuit.
The conflict intensified at a police barrier in Brofoyedru, with threats of violence from the police.
Despite attempts to conceal their identity, COCOBOD officials successfully documented the police vehicle details and identified officers involved—P. A. Abdellah and one Amidu.
“The COCOBOD team was informed that the Police have arrived, going round taking money and removing parts of the excavators from the miners. The Police later met COCOBOD officials on their way who tried to stop them but the police refused, upon reaching a barrier at Brofoyedur, they were obstructed by one of the COCOBOD’s vehicles and the two teams clashed, one of the Senior Police Officers threatened to shoot the COCOBOD officers in the heat of confrontation” Head of COCOBOD’s team, Prof. Michael Kwateng narrated.
Prof. Michael Kwateng, head of the COCOBOD Anti-Illegal Mining Unit, expresses concern over multiple reports implicating the police in illegal mining, causing distress among farmers facing continuous cocoa farm invasions.
Despite the frustrations, he emphasizes COCOBOD’s steadfast commitment to combat illegal mining and protect farmers and their essential cocoa farms.
Urgently, COCOBOD officials call on Inspector General of Police Dr. George Akuffo Dampare to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the alleged involvement of police officers in illegal mining.
The impact of illegal mining and smuggling resulted in COCOBOD falling short of its projected purchase of 850,000 tonnes of cocoa last year.