The activities of MIGOP Mining Limited, a foreign-owned gold mining company that is alleged to have put the livelihood of cocoa farmers in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality, Ashanti Region, in danger, have drawn harsh criticism from COCOBOD’s chief executive officer, Joseph Boahen Aidoo.

According to Aidoo, it is illegal and unacceptable for the mining company to be exploring and mining in the impacted communities, destroying multiple cocoa farms in the process.

The five communities in the area that grow cocoa could suffer if the company decides to start full-scale operations.

It has come to light that 400 acres of cocoa farms may be endangered as a result of MIGOP Mining Limited’s exploration efforts.

The CEO of COCOBOD took a strong stand, stating that the company’s activities are prohibited by law and highlighting the legal protections available to cocoa trees.

“It is unlawful to destroy any cocoa tree or even to remove any tree on the cocoa farm. Which means that you can’t even go there and mine. Even if loggers cannot go and take timber trees, then it means that as for mining, it cannot come to any cocoa farm at all.

“The Minerals Commission is also complicit in whatever that is going on. In this instance that we are discussing, they were issued with an exploration license and not a mining lease. It is only when you’ve gone through all the necessary processes and procedures, then you need the final stage to establish that you have a commercial precious mineral there that is only when you will be issued with a mining lease but in this instance, they only have exploration license from the minerals commission,” he stated.

He chastised the Minerals Commission even more for its oversight shortcomings, pointing out that despite holding an exploration license from the mining company, the commission failed to monitor the area to make sure no mining was taking place.

A fair compensation for any disruptions to the farmers’ farms will be secured with the help of COCOBOD, the CEO assured them. COCOBOD is dedicated to supporting the affected farmers.

“The minerals commission has not followed up to see whether they are doing exploration or mining and by law, they are not supposed to use heavy machinery through any cocoa farm. So, whatever is going on there is unlawful and COCOBOD is going to assist the farmers to have the get compensation for whatever disruption might have occurred to their farms,” he added.