We Are Suffering on Our Own Land Due To Illegal Mining – Juaso Cocoa Farmers

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 Cocoa farmers at Akyem Juaso in the Fanteakwa South District in the Eastern Region have reiterated that even though they live on their own lands, they are not having the feeling of being at home, ‘’ they are really suffering on their own lands.’’

In an interview with Nana Asare, Dwantoahene and Cocoa Buyer at Akyem Juaso by Radio one news, he said, the ‘Galamsey’ activities in the district has caused them a lot harm against their cocoa farm.

Mr. Asare indicated that ‘Cudbury Cocoa Partnership’ a co-operation formed by the cocoa farmers in the Fanteakwa South District to protect cocoa farmlands led by Mr. Humphrey Elvis Ayisi has taken numerous letters to authorities to know how to stop the ‘Galamsey’ activities against their cocoa farmlands yielded no results.

The Dwantoahene further emphasized that, letters have been sent to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the district commander, Mineral Commissioner and to the government, stating that they are not against them, but they should not destroy their cocoa trees and farmlands in exchange of gold, but the union has received no reply from the various institutions.

He described their effort to the road map of protecting the farmlands as fruitless since the various government bodies they served letters to in appeal to come to their aid had refused to hear them out, adding that the ‘Galamsey’ activities have got out of hands destroying all their cocoa farms.

Moreover, “Cocoa farming have been our only source of income and upon which we have been our surviving from generations till date”, he said.

He again stated that, to take care of their children education, their family, build houses and buy something for themselves, they have always depended on the profits they get from the cocoa farming. ‘Galamsey’ and Small Scale Mining activities over the years have worn out cocoa farmlands; the nation’s backbone, our various water bodies and the forest causing direct harm to Ghana citizens.

By: Radio1News|Ghana|Obido Nana Gyasi