Illegal mining to threaten food security of the country

Illegal mining is to cause reduction in food production.

This came to light during a Global Pollination Project (GPP)-Ghana, capacity workshop for journalists from the southern part of the country at Somanya.

Dr Kwame Aidoo, the GPP Project Manager, said the illegal miners destroy farmlands and water bodies for agricultural and domestic purpose.

Dr Rofela Combey of the Department of Entomology and Wildlife at the University of Cape Coast and a facilitator of the project said in order for the country to ensure food security, the country must learn to protect pollinators who are the major agents in food production.

Dr Rofela said without pollinators, Ghana's cocoa production will decrease by 90 percent, mangoes by 40 to 90 percent and garden eggs by 10 to 40 percent.

She said when this happens, the country's economic background would keep on dwindling if appropriate measures were not adopted.

The workshop drew 29 journalists from the private and public sector from the Western, Central, Greater Accra, Volta and the Eastern Regions respectively.