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Cocoa farmers at Akyem Banso in the Atiwa West district in the Eastern Region have said they are loosing interest in cocoa farming due the effects of mining activities on their farms.
In an interview with Radio 1 News, some of the farmers complained bitterly about how miners are destroying their farm lands
Mr. Rexford said even those of them who did not give their lands to them are severely affected the most because they mine to block the way to farms and they can’t even identify the routes to those farms.
He said if you ask the miners to cover the pits, all they would say is that, it’s not their work to cover it because extra Gold have taken upon themselves to cover it but as at now none of the pits have been covered and are death traps to them.
Mr. Rexford added that the COCOBOD and government are doing their best to improve the cocoa business but the miners are pulling them down which is making them lose interest in the farming. He said if the government really wants to invest in the business then he should see to it that extra Gold does their work by covering the pits (Reclamation).
He believes that if the pits are covered, the land owners can even use it to plant palm fruit which will also help push the country’s economy.
However, Madam Millicent who is also a farmer complained that she has harvested cocoa beans in her farm that she has to bring home to dry but as at now she can’t find her way to her farm because they have mined the way she use without covering the pits and when she asked them they said extra Gold will cover it and it’s been two weeks now, nothing is done and her harvested cocoa beans are left at the mercies of pests.
Mr. Rexford took the advantage of Radio 1 News team’s visit to urge government to enforce the law on miners and if it’s the work of the extra Gold as the miners are saying then government should make sure Extra Gold Compny Ltd sticks to their responsibilities for peace to prevail.
By: Radio1News|Ghana|Obido Nana Gyasi
