Low cocoa prices in Ghana are increasingly being linked to the rise of illegal mining, as many farmers abandon their farmlands or lease them to galamsey operators in search of better income.
President John Dramani Mahama has acknowledged that the economic struggles within the cocoa sector are pushing farmers toward more lucrative, but destructive, alternatives.
Speaking during a meeting with Organised Labour at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday, March 17, the President revealed that declining cocoa earnings have made it difficult for farmers to sustain their livelihoods.
In recent years, cocoa producer prices have lagged behind global market rates, with farmers often receiving less than a fair share of the international price.
This has led to reduced profitability, especially as production costs, such as labour, fertilisers, and transportation, continue to rise.
According to government data and industry observations, some cocoa farmers now earn significantly less compared to those engaged in small-scale gold mining.
The recent cocoa price reduction by the government has pushed many farmers to cut down their cocoa trees and lease their lands to illegal miners.
This is due to low income from the cocoa production compared to what they get from leasing their lands to illegal miners.
As a result, farmlands are either sold outright or leased to illegal miners, who can offer quick financial returns.
This trend has contributed to the rapid expansion of galamsey activities in cocoa-growing regions, further threatening Ghana’s agricultural output and environmental sustainability.
President Mahama noted that addressing the pricing imbalance is key to reversing this shift. He disclosed that the government is working on a new pricing mechanism aimed at ensuring cocoa farmers receive up to 70 percent of the world market price.
The move, he believes, will restore confidence in cocoa farming and discourage farmers from turning to illegal mining.
Beyond the economic drivers, the President admitted that illegal mining has deeply infiltrated Ghanaian society, involving actors across political and traditional institutions.
The president accepted that some of his party members are involved in this act.
“Even when one party changes, those who were running some operation, who went to one party, will go to the next party and say, now that you have come, come and take over this operation and let’s share. We too will be getting small; this is what we are doing. And so, I don’t kid myself that we don’t have our own people involved,” he admitted
He stressed that the fight against galamsey remains complex, with operators often switching allegiances between political administrations to sustain their activities.
Despite the challenges, President Mahama reaffirmed the government’s commitment to tackling the menace, noting that improved logistics and sustained enforcement efforts will be critical in protecting both Ghana’s environment and its vital cocoa industry.
