Akyem-Asafo: Cocoa farmers fight chief for giving their cocoa lands to illegal miners

Some Cocoa farmers at Akyem-Asafo in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region, are up in arms against the Chief of the community, Nana Barima Boampong Darkwanin II, for allegedly seizing their 800 acres of cocoa farms for illegal mining activities.

According to the farmers, the chief said he would give part of the seized lands to the Ghana Armed Forces to build a barrack on it.

In a letter from the Counsel of the Concern Farmers Association of Akyem Asafo to the Chief, it stated ‘’Our instructions are that you have evinced an intention to unlawfully take possession of tracts of
land with an approximate acreage of about 800 acres belonging to our clients without their
Consent’’.

‘’We are informed that the said lands do not belong to the stool. That the lands, are individual and
family lands and the stool has no interest in the said lands We are further informed by our
clients that they depend on the said lands for their livelihood’’.

‘’We are, at the instance of our Clients, writing to demand that you cease any action that infringes or has the potential to infringe upon our client's legal and equitable rights in the said and with immediate effect. We also wish to remind you that under Ghanaian law. no chief has the power to arbitrarily acquire the lands of its subjects, and any attempt to do so will be fiercely resisted’’.

The counsel added that ‘’TAKE NOTICE AND NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that if you shall fail and/or refuse to comply with our client's demand herein. legal proceedings will immediately be commenced
against you for trespass and such other reliefs as are available to our clients both in law and
equity without further notice to you’’.

However, at an engagement with the Anti-Illegal Mining Unit of COCOBOD forum held at Asafo, the farmers revealed their challenges and general concerns, which they appealed to COCOBOD and the government to help address their challenges since their cocoa is their source of livelihood.

Speaking at the forum held at Asafo to engage the farmers, the Head of the Anti Illegal Mining Unit of Ghana - COCOBOD Prof. Michael Kwateng warned of the suspension of Cocoa Road Construction in the Country if the activities of illegal mining causing the destruction of cocoa crops in the country persist.

According to Prof. Michael Kwateng, galamsey activities have negatively contributed to the reduction of the projected cocoa production (tonnes of bags) every year.

He said COCOBOD is currently considering and awaiting the completion of all Cocoa Roads given for contracts and are under construction after which it will no longer award cocoa road contracts since galamsey activities have taken over cocoa growing areas which is affecting cocoa production in such areas.

He noted that the (Economic Plant and Protection Act, Article 47) prohibits individuals from the sale of cocoa farms and any destruction caused to cocoa plant without the consent of Ghana COCOBOD, Prof. Michael Kwateng said any individual who commits such an act breach the law and is liable to face the full rigors of the law.

However, the Chief of Akyem Asafo, Nana Barima Boampong Darkwanin II, when engaged by the Anti-Illegal Mining Unit of Ghana – COCOBOD on the issue, denied the allegations made by the farmers against him.