Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Dr Randy Abbey has hinted that the government, through the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General’s department, plans to introduce targeted legislation to protect cocoa trees from illegal mining activities and indiscriminate felling.

Abbey explained that current laws lack the necessary bite to deter the destruction of cocoa farms under the pretext of mineral exploration.

According to him, consultations are currently underway with the Attorney General’s Department for the drafting and necessary amendments of existing laws for parliamentary consideration.

Addressing cocoa farmers to mark ‘May Day’ celebration in the Nkawie District of the Ashanti Region, on Thursday, May 1, Dr. Abbey said: “Existing laws are not stringent enough. The cocoa tree is not protected, and that is why people can indiscriminately just fell cocoa trees under the pretext of mining, whether it is prospecting or actual mining, we’re just destroying cocoa trees.

“So, cocoa must be protected, and that is one of the assurances President John Dramani Mahama gave when he met the executives of farmers at the Jubilee House, so we need to sit with the Attorney General’s department to be able to draft the necessary amendment and get Parliament to approve this,” COCOBOD CEO opined.

Dr Abbey also criticised the immediate past New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for failing to deliver value for money in the cocoa rehabilitation programme, despite the heavy financial investment.

The COCOBOD CEO pledged to enforce financial discipline to sanitise the sector. Thus appealing to farmers and stakeholders for their cooperation to help strengthen and grow the cocoa industry.

Cocoa farms, particularly those located in mining communities across the country, remain under constant threat from illegal mining operations and chainsaw activities.

While some miners have forcibly taken over cocoa farms, others have been acquired with the consent of farmers who have sold off their lands.

The situation according to COCOBOD continues to impact Ghana’s cocoa sector, hence the intensify efforts to introduce and enforce regulations that will protect cocoa trees.