Ghana importing cocoa beans from Nigeria, Ivory Coast amid destruction of farms by galamsey

“You are, therefore, requested to provide detailed information on the following:

i. Name of Vessel

ii. Shipment schedule

iii. Quantity of beans to be imported i.e. whether the importation would be in one

bulk otherwise, state quantity per shipment

iv. Expected date/time of arrival

“In connection with this approval, you are required to obtain all necessary authorizations from the relevant state institutions including Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority before commencing the importation,” the statement indicated.

This startling information has left Mr Dafeamekpor peeved as government in previous years indicated that Ghana had increased its cocoa production.

“Yet, we were told by this Govt in 2022 led by Dr. Afriyie Akoto, that they’ve doubled our cocoa production,” he wrote.

Cocoa is one of the key exports for Ghana. But the exportation of cocoa now hangs in the balance due to the activities of illegal miners, which government has failed to nip in the bud.

A research by the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has revealed a widespread loss of cocoa farms to illegal small-scale mining activities, popularly known as galamsey.

80 percent of selected cocoa farms in the Western, Ashanti and Eastern Regions were found to have been devastated by illegal mining.

Per the latest statistics, over 19,000 acres out of the over 20,000 cocoa-farm acreage selected in these regions were ravaged by the galamsey menace between 2019 and 2020.

It is believed that due to the extensive damage caused by galamsey, government has now resorted to importing cocoa beans