COCOBOD INTERVENES TO STOP COCOA DESTRUCTIONS AT AKYEM OSIEM, E/R

Following a report from some aggrieved cocoa farmers from Akyem Osiem that a mining company, by name Narawa Mining Company has began mining operations at Osiem and causing some amount of cocoa destruction within their concession.

Today, a team from Cocoa Protection Unit from COCOBOD, Head Office, Accra led by Prof. Michael Kwateng together with the Regional and District Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) Management of COCOBOD engaged the farmers, the District Municipal Chief Executive for Abuakwa North, as well as the management of Narawa Mining Company.

The team visited and inspected the affected cocoa farms which can be estimated at 2 acres. The team conveyed at the office of the Chief Executive, including farmers representatives. It was revealed that a farmer, his landlord, the chiefs, as well as the Assembly Member for the electoral area facilitated the selling of the cocoa farm to the company without the knowledge of the assembly.

Prof. Kwateng asked the Mining Company to seize operation in the cocoa farms with immediate effect until further notice and requested that the licence documents of the company to enable him commence investigations and write back to them for further engagement.

He used the occasion to explain to the stakeholders about the measures and interventions carried out by COCOBOD to protect and prevent cocoa destruction in the country. He warned that any farmer who sells his/her cocoa farm without seeking permission from COCOBOD will be sanctioned.

Prof. Kwateng revealed that in 2023, the same company went to the same area to mine but with a tip-off from the farmers they intervened and stopped them from destroying the cocoa farms. He opined that this time the farmers did not contact them on time, which resulted in the destruction of 2 acres of the cocoa farms. He assured the rest of the farmers to be calm while appropriate steps are being taken to address the issue.

The District Municipal Chief Executive for Abuakwa North, Hon. Charles Yeboah Darko expressed his disappointment and cautioned the company to always work with the assembly to avoid such incidents.