Illegal mining continues to pose a serious risk to Ghana’s cocoa farms as unregulated activities continue to impact negatively on the sustainability and productivity of the country’s vital agricultural sector.

Concerns are also growing over the adverse effects of climate change on cocoa production, and the threat posed by illegal mining “galamsey” adds another layer of complexity to the challenges faced by the industry and the nation’s economy.

These challenges were raised at the Cocoa Research Institute Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (CRIWU-TUC) second delegates’ conference, held in New Tafo in the Eastern Region.

The conference was on the theme, “The Impact of Climate Change on the Cocoa Sector: Adaptation and Mitigation Measures, the Role of the Worker.”

Addressing the participants, Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the Cocoa Board (Cocobod) Chief Executive Officer, indicated that the cocoa industry was currently grappling with the adverse effects of climate change variability and the detrimental impacts of galamsey activities.

He highlighted the consequences of deforestation and its link to climate change variability compounded by unregulated illegal mining, which has further polluted a substantial portion of water bodies.

He explained that the removal of trees, forests, and grasses had reduced the soil’s ability to convert carbon into oxygen, leading to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions and associated risks.

While acknowledging that cocoa trees absorb carbon, Aidoo clarified that cocoa was not responsible for deforestation.

Instead, he cited other human activities, such as cultivating crops like maize and cassava, which do not allow for vegetation regrowth, as the primary cause.

The CEO stressed the importance of preventing the destruction of cocoa trees and promoting the use of regenerative farming methods.

He also said irrigation should be the best solution for addressing reduced cocoa yields but pointed out that illegal mining activities had caused the loss of substantial water resources, which is affecting irrigation practices.

Daasebre Adusei Peasah IV, the Chief of Akyem Tafo in the Abuakwa North Municipality of the Eastern Region, also addressed the conference and echoed the importance of cocoa as the mainstay of Ghana’s economic development over the years.

He commended the event organisers for coming up with the theme aimed at tackling climate change issues affecting the cocoa sector, saying, “Cocoa is Ghana, and Ghana is cocoa.”

He expressed concerns over the threat posed by galamsey activities to cocoa farms, stating that if climate change were to be effectively addressed, these illicit mining operations must cease in cocoa-growing regions.

He explained that the challenges faced by Ghana’s cocoa sector due to climate change and galamsey activities have significant implications for the industry’s growth and the livelihoods of those dependent on it.

He urged urgent actions to implement effective adaptation and mitigation measures to ensure the sustainability and resilience of the cocoa sector in Ghana’s economy.

Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah, TUC Secretary-General, shared a personal anecdote about the positive impact of cocoa scholarships on the children of cocoa farmers.

As a direct beneficiary of the scholarship, he highlighted how it enabled him to access higher education, thanks to his mother’s status as a cocoa farmer.

He noted that the initiative played a crucial role in uplifting the socio-economic conditions of cocoa farming communities.

Ghana’s cocoa production has recently experienced shortfalls, primarily due to weather patterns leading to inadequate rainfall, and other factors such as smuggling, damage from unregulated gold mining activities, and the devastating effects of swollen shoot disease.

As a result, the nation’s cocoa output was only around 500,000 tonnes, below the targeted figure of 820,000 for the 2023/2024 season.

Unfortunately, experts say addressing these issues and achieving the desired production levels may not be immediately feasible through human intervention alone.

Nana Okogyeaman Kwasi Asiedu Koram II, the President of the Apesokubi Traditional Council in the Biakoye District of the Oti Region, has stated that the area is ready to collaborate with investors, whose area of activity would impact positively on his people.

He said communities under Apesokubi were endowed with large tracts of fertile lands to support agriculture, agro-processing and animal husbandry, which could be developed to turn the local economy around for prosperity and development.

Nana Koram made the call during the inauguration of a 17-member Apesokubi Traditional Council at Apesokubi in the Biakoye District.

Nana Koram said his traditional area was a major food basket in both the district and beyond, where cassava, yam, maize, rice, vegetables, cereals and fruits could be cultivated, and value added to feed society.

Nana Mprah Besemuna III, Krachi-Wura, congratulated the new President of Apesokubi Traditional Council and urged him to collaborate with his elders for development.

He explained that the quest for development can only be achieved when people work together with a common goal.

Nana Besemuna stated that development initiatives could only flourish when there was a peaceful environment and called for unity among chiefs in the Oti Region to improve development.

The Ghana Revenue Authority has begun a series of sensitisation programmes of individuals and institutions on the need for them to file their annual income tax returns not later than the end of April.

The Ghana Revenue Authority sets aside April every year as Tax and Good Governance Month to sensitize and encourage taxpayers as well as educate them on how to file their income tax returns and also pay the applicable taxes.

During the month, the GRA organises seminars, workshops and tax clinics to make sure that we get to the taxpayers and then tell them what their responsibilities are and what benefits they are in when they file their returns.

Speaking at a programme for public sector workers, Dr Martin Kolbil Yamborigya, Assistant Commissioner and Head of Audit for the Large Taxpayer Office, said aside from the objective of creating awareness, the sensitisation was also to remind taxpayers of their obligation in filing their tax returns.

“We also educate them to understand that filing their tax return is not just for you to pay tax, but it also affords you or gives you the opportunity to claim certain benefits,” he said.

He said some of the reliefs taxpayers could enjoy, include child education relief, marital relief, and mortgage relief.

“When you file your returns, you have access to that When you file your returns, you also have the opportunity to even claim an overpayment, assuming that as a result of this relief that you are enjoying, the taxes that you paid during the year is more than what you should have paid,” Dr Yamborigya said.

“You will be in an overpayment position and then the law requires that when you have overpaid your tax, then the Commissioner General is supposed to refund that to you within 60 days after the overpayment has been established.”

He said filing of returns was an obligation and sanctions such as monetary penalties and terms of imprisonment were applied to taxpayers who fail to comply with the law.

However, to encourage people to voluntarily comply, section 74 of the Revenue Administration Act was amended to allow taxpayers on their own volition disclose accurate information to the Commissioner- General to have their penalties, either monetary or imprisonment, waived.

“So we want to encourage people and this is something that is not just like a one-off amnesty. It is something that was incorporated into the law that at any time a taxpayer can always take advantage of that,” he said.

Dr Martin also urged people who earn income from outside the country to voluntarily disclose it and pay

the appropriate taxes in Ghana to have whatever penalties that would have been imposed waived.
Meanwhile, Dominic Adamnor Nortey, Chief Revenue Officer, said the tax on resident Ghanaians who earned income outside the country was not a new one.

He explained that the law had been in place since 2016 and required anyone who is in Ghana but earns income outside the country to consolidate all incomes, whether earned in Ghana or outside and then subject that to tax. 

He said the law is now been implemented because the GRA now had enough information to kickstart implementation.

“We don’t start anything when you don’t have the basis of getting information on people’s income outside. So, now that we have signed an agreement with about 170 countries where we exchange information, now we have information enough to believe that we can drive that aspect of the law and implement it successfully,” Mr Nartey said.

“The Act is clear that anyone who earns income, whether small, big or whatever it is, you  have to pay tax on it,” he said, adding that he had nothing to do with VAT at all.

Illegal mining continues to pose a serious risk to Ghana’s cocoa farms as unregulated activities continue to impact negatively on the sustainability and productivity of the country’s vital agricultural sector.

Concerns are also growing over the adverse effects of climate change on cocoa production, and the threat posed by illegal mining “galamsey” adds another layer of complexity to the challenges faced by the industry and the nation’s economy.

These challenges were raised at the Cocoa Research Institute Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (CRIWU-TUC) second delegates’ conference, held in New Tafo in the Eastern Region.

The conference was on the theme, “The Impact of Climate Change on the Cocoa Sector: Adaptation and Mitigation Measures, the Role of the Worker.”

Addressing the participants, Mr. Joseph Boahen Aidoo, the Cocoa Board (Cocobod) Chief Executive Officer, indicated that the cocoa industry was currently grappling with the adverse effects of climate change variability and the detrimental impacts of galamsey activities.

He highlighted the consequences of deforestation and its link to climate change variability compounded by unregulated illegal mining, which has further polluted a substantial portion of water bodies.

He explained that the removal of trees, forests, and grasses had reduced the soil’s ability to convert carbon into oxygen, leading to an increase in carbon dioxide emissions and associated risks.

While acknowledging that cocoa trees absorb carbon, Aidoo clarified that cocoa was not responsible for deforestation.

Instead, he cited other human activities, such as cultivating crops like maize and cassava, which do not allow for vegetation regrowth, as the primary cause.

The CEO stressed the importance of preventing the destruction of cocoa trees and promoting the use of regenerative farming methods.

He also said irrigation should be the best solution for addressing reduced cocoa yields but pointed out that illegal mining activities had caused the loss of substantial water resources, which is affecting irrigation practices.

Daasebre Adusei Peasah IV, the Chief of Akyem Tafo in the Abuakwa North Municipality of the Eastern Region, also addressed the conference and echoed the importance of cocoa as the mainstay of Ghana’s economic development over the years.

He commended the event organisers for coming up with the theme aimed at tackling climate change issues affecting the cocoa sector, saying, “Cocoa is Ghana, and Ghana is cocoa.”

He expressed concerns over the threat posed by galamsey activities to cocoa farms, stating that if climate change were to be effectively addressed, these illicit mining operations must cease in cocoa-growing regions.

He explained that the challenges faced by Ghana’s cocoa sector due to climate change and galamsey activities have significant implications for the industry’s growth and the livelihoods of those dependent on it.

He urged urgent actions to implement effective adaptation and mitigation measures to ensure the sustainability and resilience of the cocoa sector in Ghana’s economy.

Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah, TUC Secretary-General, shared a personal anecdote about the positive impact of cocoa scholarships on the children of cocoa farmers.

As a direct beneficiary of the scholarship, he highlighted how it enabled him to access higher education, thanks to his mother’s status as a cocoa farmer.

He noted that the initiative played a crucial role in uplifting the socio-economic conditions of cocoa farming communities.

Ghana’s cocoa production has recently experienced shortfalls, primarily due to weather patterns leading to inadequate rainfall, and other factors such as smuggling, damage from unregulated gold mining activities, and the devastating effects of swollen shoot disease.

As a result, the nation’s cocoa output was only around 500,000 tonnes, below the targeted figure of 820,000 for the 2023/2024 season.

Unfortunately, experts say addressing these issues and achieving the desired production levels may not be immediately feasible through human intervention alone.