Deputy Minister-Designate for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, has called for improved cocoa pricing as a key measure to prevent farmers from leasing their lands to illegal miners.

Speaking before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Tuesday, February 25, Dumelo highlighted the growing trend of cocoa farmers selling or leasing their farmlands to small-scale miners in exchange for large sums of money. He attributed this issue to the low prices offered for cocoa, which push farmers to seek more profitable alternatives.

Dumelo emphasized that providing cocoa farmers with fair and competitive prices would discourage them from giving up their farms for mining activities.

“Giving cocoa farmers the right price will deter them from selling their cocoa farms,” he stated.

He also advocated for a structured and regulated mining sector to prevent destructive activities that threaten agriculture.

“The second one is also to restructure or structure the whole mining industry well so that wherever they mine, it wouldn’t be able to affect these cocoa farms. But I think that the main one is about pricing,” he added.

Dumelo’s comments come at a time when illegal mining, or galamsey, continues to pose a significant threat to Ghana’s agriculture and environment. His stance aligns with broader government efforts to protect cocoa farmlands and sustain the country’s position as a leading global cocoa producer.