Cocoa Farmers Declare War on Galamsey: All Growing Areas Now ‘Security Zones’

The Concerned Farmers Association of Ghana has drawn a hard line against illegal mining, declaring cocoa-growing areas across the country as “security zones” and ordering illegal miners to stay away from the farms.

The farmers’ group says it will no longer tolerate mining activities that threaten cocoa farms, trees and the future of Ghana’s cocoa industry. The declaration comes amid growing concerns over the destruction of cocoa farms through illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

‘Stay Away From Our Cocoa Farms’

The Association’s latest position signals an escalation in the fight to protect cocoa-growing communities from illegal mining operations.

According to the group, cocoa farms must be protected from activities capable of destroying productive agricultural land and undermining the livelihoods of farmers.

The Association has previously warned farmers against handing over their cocoa farms to illegal miners, with its President, Nana Oboadie Boateng Bonsu, saying farmers who collaborate with galamsey operators could be reported to the police.

Galamsey Threatens Ghana’s Cocoa Future

Illegal mining has become one of the major threats confronting Ghana’s cocoa industry, with reports of farms being destroyed even after investments have been made to rehabilitate them.

The Cocoa Health and Extension Division of COCOBOD has also warned that galamsey is undermining investments in cocoa production and urged farmers not to surrender their farms to illegal miners.

For farmers, the stakes are enormous. The destruction of cocoa farms does not only affect individual livelihoods but could also threaten the long-term sustainability of one of Ghana’s key economic commodities.

Farmers Demand Stronger Protection

The declaration comes against the backdrop of growing calls for stronger legal protection for cocoa farms.

The Ghana Cocoa Board Bill, 2026, passed by Parliament in July, seeks to give protected status to cocoa farms and restrict mining and other environmentally harmful activities on protected cocoa farms or within 500 metres of them. The proposed law also provides for severe penalties for illegal activities affecting protected cocoa farms.

The Concerned Farmers Association has previously demanded urgent action on the legislation, warning that delays could leave more cocoa farms vulnerable to illegal mining and other competing land uses.

A Direct Challenge to Illegal Miners

With the latest declaration, cocoa farmers appear ready to take a more aggressive stance against activities threatening their farms.

The message from the Association is unmistakable: cocoa-growing areas must be protected, and illegal miners must keep out.

As Ghana battles the devastating effects of galamsey, the growing resistance from cocoa farmers adds another layer of pressure on authorities to intensify enforcement and protect the country’s cocoa-producing regions.

For the farmers, the fight is not simply about protecting trees—it is about protecting their livelihoods, Ghana’s cocoa industry and the economic future of farming communities.