The Minister-designate for Ashanti Region, Dr Frank Amoakehene, has declared his intention to prioritize gold and cocoa production in the Ashanti Region.

Speaking on Nhyira Fm’s “Kuro Yi Mu Nsem” show, he expressed conviction that cocoa and gold are the sole contributors to the growth of the Ashanti Region.

“In Ashanti Region, cocoa and gold production is one of the areas that creates revenue for our mothers and fathers who are farmers. It is an area that I’ll sit down with sector players and plan,” he stated.

According to Dr. Amoakohene, the recent decline in cocoa production is a worry.

“During the past government, cocoa production declined. Initially they were producing almost 1 million tons of cocoa but today we produce just a little around 500 thousand, which isn’t good,” he said.

The minister-designate emphasized the government’s resolve to engage community members in the fight against illegal mining.

“With the issue of galamsey, when I got close to them during my campaign, I realized they don’t have any work to do. Galamsey is their only source of livelihood. If you take soldiers there, they cannot stay there for up to 3 days, they have to eventually leave and immediately when they do, the galamseyers go back there. So we need to get the community to support all that we’re doing,” he said.

Dr. Frank Amoakohene shared his plans to train illegal miners in other economic ventures to help reduce dependence on mining.

“So if they do not have any alternative skill whatsoever, we need to find them some. We have to train them in other areas so that when they stop the ‘gala’ they will have something else to feed on,” he said.

He also believes there are good miners out there who need licenses and some training to practice safe mining and contribute to the sustainable gold production.

“There are others that work really hard, so if the government gives them licenses to practice safe mining, they can help with the country’s gold production. So we can streamline the informal extractive sector so they can also have their daily bread,” he said.