E/R: Ankaase Youth Abandon Cocoa Farming Because it’s Not Lucrative

The Youth in Ankaase Community in the Atiwa East District in the Eastern Region have abandoned Cocoa farming, even as there is no job for them.

The main occupation for residents of Ankaase is farming but out of the numerous types, Cocoa farming is predominant but the occupation is viewed by the youth in the area as only for the old men and women since what they realize after their hard labour is just meagre.

Information collated by Radio 1 News during the Team’s visit to the community showed that the Youth, upon seeing the struggles their parents and grandparents go through during the Cocoa farming season but do not get enough money from it, they don’t find it as an enterprising adventure for them and the generation yet unborn.

They attributed their rejection of the most enterprising business to the poor road access to the farms, low price of the cocoa, lack of Capital to start and Labour issues.

This has made them result to illegal mining since they see it as a better avenue for generating money and of course would not demand much Capital for the start.

While others venture into the mining, others are left with no other option than engage in social vices from home to farm produce. Though they know, Cocoa farming is a lifetime project, the youth are not ready to engage themselves even as they linger in the community.

Per the observation of the group, not only has it increased in Social vices in the area but has also increased premarital sex and unplanned birth culminating in Hardship in the community.

By: Radio1News|Ghana|Obido Nana Gyasi