The Public Relations Officer of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Fiifi Boafo, has revealed that the arduous tasks of cocoa farmers have been exacerbated by illegal mining.
According to him, galamsey activities have heavily polluted river bodies that were once used to irrigate cocoa farms.
He revealed that farmers carry portable water from their homes to irrigate their farms.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Boafo said although the alternative is strenuous, it is the only means to ensure that cocoa beans harvested meet international standards.
“The effects of illegal mining are far more than we are talking about. River bodies within the farming bodies are so polluted farmers are unable to use them to irrigate the farm. In instances where farmers use polluted water, every flower, as well as the pod on the tree, dropped.
“So there is the need to carry portable water from their houses to the farm to spray their cocoa,” he said on Thursday.
Conservations surrounding illegal mining resurfaced two weeks ago, after the second arrest of galamsey poster girl, Aisha Huang and two of her accomplices.
The Chinese national was first arrested in 2018 and deported in 2019.
However, the galamsey kingpin managed to infiltrate the country again to continue her illegal mining activities.
Many have since accused the AkufoAddo government of failing to clamp down on galamsey as it promised.
Government has been fighting illegal mining for many years, but the efforts and investments have proved futile.
However, Mr Boafo, believes stringent enforcement of the laws could save the country from this dire menace.
Latest Stories
- Domelevo yet to receive emoluments nearly 3 years after being ‘forced out’
11 mins - Debt exchange: I don’t want to believe there are conmen in government – Carbonu on pensions
11 mins - Hubtel wins big at Ghana Fintech Awards 2022
20 mins - ‘Kamaldeen feels he can help Southampton immediately’ – Nathan Jones
21 mins - Fire kills mother, 2 daughters at Abuakwa
21 mins - 34 women arrested for prostitution in Tema, each granted GHs5k bail each
24 mins - Ex-soldier sues government, colleagues over sexual abuse
26 mins - aYo insurance covers over 8 million Ghanaians in 5 years
34 mins - Every Premier League signing and sale made in the January 2023 transfer window
36 mins - Southampton confirm signing of Black Stars winger Kamaldeen Sulemana
44 mins - Husband tells wife to pay him 30% of her salary for using their home office to work
47 mins - Ukraine deserves to join Nato, says new Czech leader
54 mins - CHAN 2022: Senegal see off Madagascar to set up final with Algeria
1 hour - Sex and no sleep may be killing endangered quolls – Research
1 hour - Tobe Nwigwe names Stonebwoy, Burna Boy, others as musicians he hopes to work with
1 hour