Concerned cocoa farmers in the Ellembelle District of the Western stormed an illegal mining site at Sendu on Saturday, June 1, to express their frustration and opposition to the destruction of their cocoa farms and water bodies.

Benjamin Azachie, the leader of the Ellembelle Concerned Cocoa Farmers, spoke after presenting their petition to the Ellembelle Member of Parliament, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah.

He appealed to him for assistance in stopping the forced takeover of cocoa farms by illegal miners, or "galamseyers," which is destroying their investments and water sources.

Mr Azachie emphasised that if their concerns are not addressed, the farmers would be compelled to take matters into their own hands and take the necessary steps to protect their livelihoods.

“I’m demonstrating because of the pollution of our water and destruction of cocoa farms. How are we going to feed our children with the destruction of our farms? The operators suddenly came without prior notice to us.

“They tried to pay off my brother to mine in his cocoa farm, but because he refused to accept their money, they have destroyed half of the farm. Why are they doing this to us? This is what worries us. President Akufo-Addo must address this concern. Right now, farmers are not getting water to drink,"he lamented.

Another resident, Ama Amihere said, “They have destroyed rubber farms and also cheated the farmers after forcefully taking their farms. So, we are pleading with government that what is happening is not lawful.”

The once-clean River Fia has been polluted due to illegal mining activities in the Nyamebekyere-Sendu area of Ellembelle.

Nicholas Kofi Mawuli, the Assembly Member for the Nyamebekyere Electoral Area, expressed concerns about the involvement of Chinese nationals in these illegal activities.

After over an hour of demonstrating at the Sendu galamsey site, the Convener of the Concerned Cocoa Farmers of Ellembelle presented their petition to Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the MP for Ellembelle.

The MP assured the cocoa farmers of his commitment to forward the concerns raised in their petition to parliament for redress.

He however urged the affected residents not to keep quiet but speak up loudly against illegal mining activities in the area.

He said the war against the illegal mining activities in the area, remains a collective responsibility and all hands must be on deck to stem the tide.