Farmers prefer giving their lands to illegal miners – Divine Nkrumah

Divine Nkrumah, the Director of Operations for the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), has raised concerns about the state of agriculture in Ghana.

He noted that from the era of Kwame Nkrumah to the present, no president has addressed the economy without prioritizing agriculture in their budget.

Speaking on the Angel Morning Show (AMS) on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, Nkrumah highlighted that many of the large loans secured by the government are backed by the country’s cocoa, including major projects like the Akosombo Dam.

“Farmers are now selling their lands—one acre for 10,000 cedis—only to clear them for illegal mining,” he stated.

He also shared a conversation with a farmer who had cultivated his land for 30 years with little to show for it. However, after leasing his land for illegal mining activities for just six months, the farmer was able to build a two-bedroom house.

Nkrumah criticized the poor treatment of farmers who sacrifice so much for the nation. He accused intellectuals and politicians of using their influence to steal money that rightfully belonged to the farmers.

Additionally, he pointed out the misallocation of resources, mentioning that scholarships and road projects meant for cocoa farmers have instead been directed to urban areas like East Legon, where farming does not take place. Meanwhile, farmers in rural areas continue to struggle with poor infrastructure.