Cocoa farmers say they are ready to help govt fight galamsey

The Coalition for Cocoa Sector Reforms (CCSR-Gh) has said cocoa farmers in Ghana are ready to partner the government to ring to end the illegal small scale mining (Galamsey) menace.

The group said the farmers are not ready to fall for the the cash incentives  of galamseyers to give out their farm lands for their nefarious activities.

In statement, the group said “On galamsey, farmers are ready to help government fight it if only their plea is considered. Farmers will not fall for the cash incentives  of galamseyers if their plea is taken and together we will save the cocoa industry from eventual collapse.

“The Forestry Commission must also look at the remuneration for forest guards and technical officers. Their conditions of service is very poor. They work with minimum safety boots, protective clothing and ammunitions. Let’s give better remuneration and honour to these agricultural sector workers and safe the industry now or we forfeit it.

“We also call for the arrest and prosecution of galamseyers operating in the Tano-Numri forest and officials of the minerals commission who gave mining license to Akonta Mining with expiration in 2035 against the minerals and mining of natural resource act of Ghana. Long live Cocoa farmers, long live Ghana.”

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be meeting Municipal and District Chief Executives and also National House of Chiefs at Manhyia in Kumasi today, Wednesday October 5, over issues surrounding galamsey.

This comes at a time concerns have been raised by stakeholders regarding the impact of galamsey on water bodies and the environment in general.

Ahead of the meeting, Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mr Ernest Owusu-Bempah appealed to all Ghanaians to support the President to deal with this situation.

He said the President is committed to fighting the menace.

“We the NPP will support the president to deal with this menace,” portions of his statement said on Tuesday October.

Pressure group, OccupyGhana has also asked the government to declare a state of emergency over this issue.

A statement by the group said “Considering the gravity of the situation, we fully expect Parliament to agree with the government and provide that the state of emergency should remain for such period as Parliament may determine so that the government can get a grasp of the situation.”

Source: 3news