The Forestry Commission, Ghana has destroyed about 42 acres of mature cocoa farms and yet to destroy over 30 extra acres at Asuogya, Adabokrom, Western North.
According to Prof. Michael Kwateng, Head of Cocoa Protection Desk of COCOBOD who visited the farms yesterday during sensitization and education exercise in the region. He received a petition from the farmers that their cocoa farms which they have been cultivating for over forty (40) years are now facing threat of destruction from the Commission.
Prof. Kwateng said an engagement with the Forestry Commission revealed that the land on which the cocoa farms are being cultivated is a forest reserve but the farmers are proving otherwise. The leader of the farmers was arrested and bailed.
The farmers claim the land belongs to their forefathers. According to them the commission took the issue to court in 1988 and 2016 respectively but the court ruled in favour of the farmers. Since then, the Commission staff come to extort money from them and even give part of the concession to some people to farm in return for money.
With the current economic hardship the farmers refused to pay what the officers demanded and that led to the destruction of their cocoa farms.
According to Prof. Kwateng, he thinks that the action of the Commission is illegal because they refused to engage the Regulator (COCOBOD) which is against the Economic
Plants Protection Act 1979. He opined that according to Forestry Act it is the court that must give order for the destruction of the farms.
COCOBOD upon receiving the petition engaged the commission to safeguard the situation but they refused to settle the matter.
The question is where was Forestry Commission when the cocoa was being cultivated since 40 years ago?
Prof. Kwateng said the case would be forwarded to their legal department to pursue further in court for the payment of compensation regarding those cocoa farms/trees destroyed.
Source: ginews.online
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