The Chamber of Agribusiness is set to stage a demonstration in response to the unchecked devastation of agricultural farmlands by illegal miners. The Chamber has reported that over 1.2 million hectares of farmland have been destroyed, raising serious concerns among investors about the future viability of their agribusiness ventures.
In an interview with Citi Business News, CEO Anthony Morrison expressed his frustration, highlighting the severe impact of illegal mining on agriculture. Despite numerous complaints, the destruction continues as illegal miners pursue resources like gold. Morrison stated, “People’s investments have gone down the drain as a result of activities of illegal mining and galamsey actors. It is a call that we are working on this week. We intend to follow up with a press release and, after that, follow it up with a demonstration among the farmer front and agribusiness front. We are losing quite a lot.”
Morrison called for immediate action from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, criticizing his administration for failing to protect the livelihoods of the rural population involved in agriculture. “We have lost trust with him as a result of the fact that he is not protecting the livelihood of over 57% of the rural population that is directly involved in agriculture, and we are talking about 17 million people,” Morrison said.
The Chamber of Agribusiness plans to launch various initiatives in response to the crisis. These include petitioning the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other international bodies to apply pressure on the president for swift action. Morrison also raised concerns about the potential impact on Ghana’s agricultural exports, noting that European countries and other export destinations might implement safeguard measures if the situation remains unresolved.
Morrison emphasized the urgent need for action to restore confidence in the agricultural sector and boost investment. “If there can be an immediate stop to the issues of galamsey because there are a lot of people whose prospective investors are on the ice as a result of galamsey going on in identified zones where they ought to be doing their investment,” he said.
The demonstration planned by the Chamber of Agribusiness aims to draw attention to the critical issue of farmland destruction and its broader implications for the agricultural sector and the economy. As illegal mining continues to threaten agricultural lands, the Chamber’s actions underscore the pressing need for effective measures to protect and sustain Ghana’s agricultural resources and investment climate.
