Low Cocoa Prices Under Mahama’s Era Sparked Galamsey Surge – Ghana Cocoa Board CEO
Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the CEO of the Ghana Cocoa Board(COCOBOD) has said that many cocoa farmers began leasing their lands to illegal mining operators due to low cocoa prices. He explained that the farmers felt discouraged by the cocoa price of GHC 475.00 during the tenure of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.
Speaking on the Adwenkyere Show on Kessben TV, Mr. Aidoo highlighted that the drop in cocoa prices led farmers in the Brong Ahafo region to switch to cashew farming, while those in the Eastern Region turned to rubber production, as cocoa farming had become less profitable.
He revealed that cocoa, which was valued at $3,000 per tonne on the world market during Mahama’s administration, had fallen to $1,850 per tonne by 2018.
Despite the $3,000 valuation during the NDC’s time in office, the government paid farmers only $1,790 per tonne, equivalent to the value of 16 bags of cocoa.
Mr. Aidoo noted that when the global price of cocoa dropped to $2,000 or below in 2017, the current government, led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, maintained cocoa prices for farmers. Unlike in other countries where prices were reduced, the Ghana Cocoa Board sought grants to compensate farmers and sustain their interest in cocoa farming, even as illegal mining activities surged across the country.
He also warned about the devastating impact of soil degradation caused by illegal mining on cocoa production, stressing the long-term consequences for the industry.
Story by: Juliet Ayiih
