Statesman and founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has predicted that very soon, Ghana’s cocoa would be rejected on the world market due the impact of chemicals from illegal mining (galamsey) on the quality of the crop. He opined that the government has failed in the fight against galamsey which
The post Galamsey Fight: Ghana’s cocoa will be rejected very soon – Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe first appeared on 3News.
Statesman and founding member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe has predicted that very soon, Ghana’s cocoa would be rejected on the world market due the impact of chemicals from illegal mining (galamsey) on the quality of the crop.
He opined that the government has failed in the fight against galamsey which is even rife now than before with the blatant involvement of high government officials.
“As I am talking to you today, galamsey is still going on and it involves high government officials, and nobody is doing anything about it. Our rivers have been totally destroyed, we don’t have any good rivers in Ghana” Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe said.
Mercury exposure is especially harmful to children and teenagers, who often work at galamsey sites and handle the liquid metal with their bare hands.
Mercury poisoning also affects people who live near galamsey sites through drinking water and fish consumption. Neurological disorders are associated with mercury poisoning, and it is particularly harmful to pregnant women. Additionally, it can wipe out entire plant populations and stunt crop growth, including cocoa.
The ex-military officer and medical doctor asserts, the combined police and military operation strategy adopted against galamsey cannot succeed, therefore, the task should be given to the military alone.
“Leave the galamsey fight to the military alone. Unless the military has changed but if they are charged to see to the stop of this galamsey and told this is your target; let this stop immediately or within the shortest possible time. You will be surprised with what will happen because they have a chain of command. They know who sent them and how to handle it” Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe told Johnnie Hughes on the 3FM Sunrise Morning show, June 27.
“Now our cocoa is coming down and very soon it will be rejected on the world market. Mark my word, because our cocoa now contains a lot of chemicals that will definitely lead to the destruction of those who will use it” he predicted.
Council Chairman of Cocoa Abrabopa Association, Ismael Pomasi has told local media recently that galamsey is the biggest threat to cocoa production in Ghana. Other factors such as climate change which can usher in an extremely dry season one year and excessive rain the next, are contributing to the volatile nature of the cocoa market. The deforestation from illegal gold mining is a critical contributor to climate change.
A lot of farmers out of frustration due to low yields, lack of farmhands and other threats posed by illegal mining activities have been compelled to sell their farms to illegal miners.
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By Samuel Afriyie Owusu
The post Galamsey Fight: Ghana’s cocoa will be rejected very soon – Dr. Nyaho-Tamakloe first appeared on 3News.
