The Member of Parliament for Offinso South, Isaac Yaw Opoku, has called on cocoa farmers in the Ahafo Region to resist the growing temptation to hand over their farmlands to illegal miners, popularly known as galamsey operators, amid mounting challenges within the cocoa sector.
His appeal comes at a time when farmers are grappling with delays in payments for cocoa beans, a situation that has heightened frustration across key cocoa-producing communities.
Mr Opoku made the remarks during a visit by the Minority Caucus in Parliament to the Ahafo Region, where the delegation engaged farmers to gain first-hand insight into the difficulties confronting them. The visit forms part of broader efforts to assess the impact of current sector challenges and advocate for timely government intervention.
He warned that the continued neglect of farmers’ concerns could have far-reaching consequences for the industry, noting that some producers are already considering abandoning cocoa farming altogether.
According to him, there are increasing reports of farmers contemplating leasing their lands to illegal mining operators, cutting down cocoa farms, or switching to alternative crops due to economic pressures.
Mr Opoku cautioned against such decisions, describing them as detrimental not only to individual livelihoods but also to the long-term sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa industry.
He emphasized the importance of preserving cocoa farms, expressing optimism that conditions in the sector would improve and urging farmers to remain patient.
The MP also called on the government to urgently address payment delays and other structural challenges affecting the sector, stressing that timely support is essential to maintaining farmer confidence and safeguarding Ghana’s position as one of the world’s leading cocoa producers.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has released approximately GH¢4.2 billion to Licensed Buying Companies for onward payment to farmers who have been owed since November last year.
The disbursement is part of ongoing efforts to clear outstanding arrears, restore trust within the cocoa value chain, and stabilise the sector amid growing concerns from farmers and industry stakeholders.
