By: Mabel Adorkor Annang
Allocating lands to illegal miners is gradually reducing lands for farming in Kenyasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The situation is affecting general production of farm produce.
Residents say this is likely to cause famine in the area hence the need for an urgent solution to the endless menace.
Some farmers have complained that this has rendered them jobless. Unfortunately, some farmers have willingly given out their farm lands for huge sums of money for illegal mining.
Nana Tuffour, a cocoa farmer in the community said due to lack of motivation in the cocoa sector he has given out his farmlands to illegal miners.
“Giving out my farmland for illegal mining popularly referred to as galamsey has given me some sort of income which I am happy about. I am currently engaged in the galamsey activities myself.” he added.
This new development could cause Ghana to lose productive cocoa farm lands which will reduce production thereby depriving the country of its position as the second largest producer of cocoa in the world.
Some farmers who are into commercial farming in Kenyasi are unhappy and are calling for the ban on the importation of equipment used by the illegal miners and also to make illegal mining unattractive for those involved in it.
They believe that the equipment is causing more harm than good. They accused the chiefs of being actively involved in these illegal activities.
The chiefs in the community say there should be a review of the mining licensing regime to ensure that they are actively involved in the process to reduce illegal operations.
In an interview with the Omanhene (Chief) of Kenyase Number One, Nana Osei Kofi Abiri said he has warned chiefs under his jurisdiction to refrain from illegal allocation of concessions for mining.
Though government’s attempts to end illegal mining activities in the country have not been successful, the Chiefs believe that community mining could help the situation.
