Ghana parliament backs tough cocoa farm protections, with up to 20 years in prison
The law would make it a crime to repurpose cocoa farms without approval, with penalties of up to 20 years in prison, officials said.
- On Thursday, Ghana's parliament passed legislation granting all cocoa farms protected status and criminalizing unauthorized repurposing with prison terms of up to 20 years. President John Mahama has not yet signed the measure.
- Volatile international cocoa futures surged past $12,000 per metric ton in 2024 before crashing to around $4,000 as supply outstripped demand, prompting the government to seek tighter production control through this legal framework.
- Moses Djan Asiedu, administrator of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association Limited, criticized the measure as unfair, noting farmers invest their own resources while cocoa generates nearly 15% of Ghana's export revenue.
- In neighboring Ivory Coast, cocoa exports account for 40% of total revenue, mirroring Ghana's economic reliance. The bill imposes prison sentences of 10 to 20 years for illegal gold mining and heavy fines per affected tree.
- While the measure passed Thursday, its contents remained undisclosed until late Sunday, drawing public attention only after release. President John Mahama's signature is now required to formalize the protections for the nation's vital cocoa sector.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Associated Press News
Ghana parliament backs tough cocoa farm protections, with up to 20 years in prison
Ghana's parliament has passed a bill that could imprison cocoa farmers for up to 20 years if they convert their farms without government approval.
Ghana's Parliament passed a bill that could send cocoa producers to prison for up to 20 years if they convert their farms to other uses without government approval, according to a copy of the bill seen by The Associated Press.
Atiwa West: SE community demands prosecution of galamsey kingpin for destroying 80 acres of cocoa farms
A community called SE, near Ekoso in the Atiwa West district of the Eastern region are demanding urgent government action to stop an illegal miner who has destroyed over 80 acres of cocoa and food crops in the area.
The Human Cost of Galamsey: How Illegal Mining Devastates Communities in Ghana
Ghana’s fight against illegal small-scale mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, has long been a contentious issue, but its true toll extends far beyond environmental degradation. While discussions often center on deforestation, water pollution, and economic losses, the human cost of galamsey remains one of its most devastating and overlooked consequences. Communities across Ghana—particularly in regions like Ahafo, Bono, and Western North—ar…
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