President John Mahama is proposing new laws to criminalise the destruction of money crops like cocoa for mining functions.
Based on him, it’s economically prudent to domesticate cocoa, which may generate earnings all year-round, in comparison with mining, which leaves the land barren as soon as the gold is extracted.
Talking after a courtesy name from the Ghana Cocoa, Espresso, and Sheanut Farmers Affiliation, he famous that preserving cocoa manufacturing is significant for the nation’s financial system.
“We’ve got to make sure that individuals are not chopping down cocoa timber to mine gold. As soon as the land is mined out, it turns into ineffective, whereas cocoa timber can yield income for 30 years or extra. It makes extra sense to protect cocoa farms than to mine the land and render it barren for future generations,” Mahama acknowledged.
“We’re exploring legislative measures to stop cocoa farm destruction for mining,” he added.
President Mahama additionally declared the 12 months 2025 because the “Yr of Correction” to deliver the cocoa sector again on monitor.
He criticised the Ghana Cocoa Board underneath the earlier administration for its administration of the trade, particularly calling out the spending of GH₵3.4 billion final 12 months, which he says was largely used for administrative and headquarters bills.
“COCOBOD’s whole debt in the present day is GH₵ 3.2 billion, and GH₵9 million should be paid by September. That is cash that ought to have gone to farmers however is now getting used to service money owed,” he lamented.
“Manufacturing has declined, but COCOBOD’s employees numbers have elevated, which is counterproductive. In enterprise, when manufacturing and income lower, workforce changes are made. Nevertheless, underneath the earlier administration, employment at COCOBOD elevated whereas manufacturing dwindled.”
President Mahama emphasised that the important thing to sustaining cocoa manufacturing is making certain truthful pricing for farmers.
He criticised earlier insurance policies that noticed producer costs fall beneath 40% and advocated for no less than 70% to incentivise farmers.
“Within the first 4 years of the previous administration, there was nearly no improve in producer costs, regardless of foreign money depreciation. This 12 months shall be a 12 months of correction to handle these points and restore the trade to a robust footing,” he famous.
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