Ghana’s cocoa industry is facing a severe crisis as illegal small-scale mining, indiscriminate felling of timber, and sand mining continue to ravage farmlands. As of December 2024, an estimated 30,000 hectares of cocoa farms have been destroyed nationwide, with an additional 50,000 hectares at risk, according to Dr. Randy Abbey, Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD.
Speaking at a parliamentary conference in Accra, Dr. Abbey emphasized that illegal mining—commonly known as galamsey—is significantly reducing the amount of land available for cocoa cultivation, threatening farmers’ livelihoods, national cocoa output, and export earnings.
Dr. Abbey revealed that due to concerns over illegal mining’s impact on soil quality, Japan and the European Union (EU) will begin testing Ghana’s cocoa beans for heavy metal contamination in September 2025. To ensure the quality and safety of exports, COCOBOD is setting up a state-of-the-art laboratory at its Quality Control Centre in Tema. The facility will test cocoa beans for potential contamination before they are exported.
To curb the destruction of cocoa trees, COCOBOD is proposing an amendment to the Economic Protection Act (ARFCD 47) of 1979. The amendment aims to introduce stricter penalties, ensuring severe punishment and hefty fines for individuals or entities that cut down cocoa trees without justifiable reasons.
Dr. Abbey stressed the economic significance of cocoa to the nation, stating that the sector currently provides direct employment to two million Ghanaians and an additional five million through indirect jobs.
Government’s Plan to Regulate Small-Scale Mining
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, outlined the government’s strategy to promote responsible small-scale mining while tackling illegal activities.
The Community Mining Cooperative Initiative is a key component of the strategy, aiming to license and support small-scale miners with legitimate concessions. The Minister urged Members of Parliament to mobilize their constituents to form cooperatives that will engage in legal and sustainable mining practices.
Illegal mining continues to threaten Ghana’s natural resources, particularly its forest reserves and water bodies. According to the Minister:
- Out of 288 forest reserves nationwide, 44 are under serious threat from illegal mining, affecting 7,500 hectares of forest land—an area equivalent to thousands of football fields.
- The turbidity levels of major rivers have deteriorated significantly, ranging between 5,000 and 12,000 NTU—far exceeding the acceptable range of 0 to 500 NTU.
The Minister reiterated President John Mahama’s strong resolve to crack down on illegal mining operations, including the financiers and influential figures behind the trade.
“The fight against illegal small-scale mining must go beyond surface-level arrests—we need to expose the real masterminds and hold them accountable,” the Minister declared.
The conference, themed “Restoring a Culture of Proper Small-Scale Mining in Ghana,” brought together Members of Parliament (MPs), agency heads, civil society organizations, and experts from institutions such as the Ghana Geological Survey Authority, Minerals Commission, Forestry Commission, Lands Commission, and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Parliamentarians were tasked with taking concrete actions in their constituencies to address the illegal mining menace and equip their communities with the necessary knowledge and tools to implement sustainable solutions.
With growing international scrutiny and domestic concerns, the survival of Ghana’s cocoa industry now depends on urgent interventions, stricter regulations, and a collective commitment to protecting farmlands from destruction.
