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Deputy Minister-Designate for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, has called for better pricing of cocoa to prevent farmers from giving their lands to illegal miners.
Speaking before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, February 25, Dumelo highlighted a worrying trend where cocoa farmers are leasing their farms to illegal small-scale miners, known as “galamsey” operators, in exchange for large sums of money.
The Ayawaso West Wuogon MP explained that many farmers feel forced to make this decision because the prices they receive for cocoa are too low to sustain their livelihoods.
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“Giving cocoa farmers the right price will deter them from selling their cocoa farms,” Dumelo stated.
He also stressed the need for stronger regulations in the mining sector to ensure that mining activities do not destroy farmlands.
“The second solution is to properly regulate the mining sector so that mining activities do not affect cocoa farms. But I believe the most important issue is pricing,” he added.
His comments come at a time when Ghana, one of the world’s largest cocoa producers, is struggling with the impact of illegal mining on agriculture, forests, and water bodies.
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