COCOBOD Service Personnel educate farmers on galamsey

The National Service Personnel Association of COCOBOD, Head Office (NASPAC) has embarked on an educational tour of Kwabeng in the Atiwa District of the Eastern Region.

The tour which was dubbed: Stop Galamsey, save our Farmlands was aimed at sensitising cocoa farmers on the negative effects of illegal mining popularly known as Galamsey.

Mr Bernard Oduro Nketia, President of the Association in his keynote address said, cocoa has remained the backbone of Ghana’s economy over the years and entreated the farmers to desist from offering their farmlands to galamsey operators at the expense of cocoa farming.

He said galamsey operations destroy water bodies and farmlands leading to loses of soil fertility which in turn affects the agricultural prospects of the community and the country at large.

Ms Portia Arthur, Secretary of the Association, used the occasion to brief the farmers on the history of the cocoa bean, the benefits of cocoa and how the production of cocoa provides jobs for Ghanaians in diverse ways.

She said cocoa provides more foreign exchange for the country and called on the youth to engage in cocoa farming to take over from the ageing farmers to increase production.

Mr Edward Odame, Disaster Management Officer, Special Service Department, COCOBOD said excavating of land by the galamsey operators destroys it.

Mr Kwabena Frimpong, Chief Farmer at Kwabeng and spokesperson for the cocoa farmers appealed to government and COCOBOD to help provide means of monitoring output at every community so that the incentives would benefit the people directly.

He also urged government to increase the producer price of cocoa and strengthen the mass spraying exercise.