The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has raised concerns about the potential loss of Ghana’s premium position in the international cocoa market due to illegal mining activities.
In an interview on The Point of View with Bernard Avle, Prof. Michael Kwarteng, Director of the Anti-Corruption Galamsey Unit of COCOBOD, highlighted the detrimental impact of illegal mining, or “galamsey,” on cocoa production.
These remarks follow a warning by the former Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Henry Kokofu, regarding a potential embargo on Ghana’s cocoa bean exports due to the escalating activities of illegal miners.
“Per what we’re seeing, if nothing is done to stop this act [illegal mining], we may lose even our position as the number one premium cocoa. In terms of quality, we all know that, in the whole world, Ghana’s cocoa is the best. If we continue to this, then we’re going to lose that, the quality of our cocoa beans is going to be affected seriously.”
“I know our Cocoa Research Institute is researching that, and I’m sure they will come out with their findings. But per what we’re all seeing, we stand the risk of losing, so he’s right.”
In response to the EU’s report suggesting a potential ban on Ghana over cocoa cultivated on deforested land, he advocated for an evaluation of cocoa’s benefits to the citizens of Ghana.
“I think we have not realized the benefits we’re getting from cocoa production as a nation. COCOBOD is doing so much, cocoa production is offering us employment, even road construction. Our cocoa farmers rely on cocoa for their livelihoods. I think that as a nation, we should begin to assess the importance of cocoa production,” he opined.
Prof. Kwarteng expressed concern about the challenges cocoa farmers face in accessing water for irrigation on their farms due to pollution of most water bodies.
“There’s no way we can put cocoa aside and concentrate on the minerals. All our water bodies are going, now for farmers to get water to nurse their crops is even difficult, some buy sachet water and take it to the farms.”
Ghana has experienced the lowest cocoa production in the past 10 years.