The Anti Galamsey Desk of COCOBOD lead by Prof. Michael Kwateng yesteday joined the Deputy Executive Director in-charge of Operations for Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) , Dr. Kwame Owusu-Ansah to intervene an attempt to destroy over 5000HA of cocoa farms at Nuametwa in the Bia West District in the Western North Region by Tracking and Construction Company Limited.
The action of COCOBOD was necessitated by a petition received from cocoa farmers in the community to intervene an attempt by Tracking and Construction Company to undertake prospecting exercise in the community.
COCOBOD yesterday met the Chiefs and the people of Yawmatwa after an engagement with the DCE in the Bia West Distrct, Hon. Bernard Gyebi Blay who denied the allegations and declare his support to protect the cocoa farms and the community from illegal miners.
The chief of Yawmatwa, Nana Yaw Berima and some opinion leaders in the community also declare their unflinching support for COCOBOD to resist any attempt to introduce illegal mining in the community.
The Head of the COCOBOD's delegation, Prof. Michael Kwateng took his time to explain measures put in place by COCOBOD to promote and protect the cocoa industry from illegal miners and other factors affecting the industry. He opined that COCOBOD led by Hon. Jeseph Boahen Aidoo is strictly enforcing Economic Plants Protection Act 1979 that was passed to protect cocoa trees/farms some years back and cautioned all to desist from destroying cocoa farms.
The Deputy Director of Operations in charge of Coco Health and Extension Division, Dr. Kwame Owusu-Ansah revealed the investment COCOBOD has made on the Cocoa Rehabilatation Programme and the benefits to the community, He advised Nananom and the community to embrace the programme to their benefits.
It is welcoming to note that Bia West District is among the few districts in Ghana that are free from illegal mining/galamsey activities and that the entire community are burnt on ensuring that they maintain this enviable position even if it will take their lives..
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