A number of foreigners have been camped in some communities in Kwahu West Municipality of Eastern Region who have been engaging in illegal mining popularly known as Galamsey destroying over 1000 acres of cocoa farms.
Some farmers at Essaase, Adumasua, Yaakorkor, Ahantanan and surrounding communities sold out their cocoa farms to these galamsey operators who use gold detector machines for easy identification.
A visit by Nkawkaw based Agoo FM’s Ebenezer Kojo Nyavor revealed that, these illegal miners operate within the cocoa farms.
The dangerous part of this operation is that almost all the cocoa trees do not last longer few days after operating and for that matter, the farms have been totally destroyed.
Sources say some Youth from Burkina Faso, Togo and Benin have been deployed to engage in the galamsey business.
It is unclear if the farmers were not aware of the implications toward their cocoa farm before handing over their farms to these foreigners.
Queen mother of Yaakorkor Nana Hemaa Ama Ofori has expressed disappointment over the menace but do not know how to engage the ministry of lands and natural resources to take measures to address the issues.
Moreover, Obo Gyaase Nana Dr. Okra Baadu III in an interview said, he has put together a full documentary that is yet to be released to expose some prominent people behind the act.
A farmer and a resident in the area who spoke to Kasapa News said the landowners give these Galamsey operators the opportunity to operate.
He expressed worry over the situation but the problem keep increasing day and day out.