Ghana’s Parliament has passed a controversial bill that could see cocoa farmers jailed for up to 20 years if they convert cocoa farms to other uses without government approval.
The legislation, which is still awaiting President John Dramani Mahama’s signature, would designate all cocoa farms as protected land, making it a criminal offence to repurpose them without official authorisation.
The proposed law is part of Ghana’s efforts to protect one of its most valuable industries. Cocoa is a major pillar of the country’s economy, accounting for nearly 15% of export earnings and providing livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of farming families.
The toughest penalties in the bill target illegal gold mining, known locally as galamsey, which has destroyed large areas of cocoa farmland and polluted rivers. Offenders could face 10 to 20 years in prison, along with substantial fines for every cocoa tree damaged.
However, many farmers say the law places too much responsibility on them while offering little support in return.
“If cocoa is a national asset, then the farmer should also be supported to cover some of the cost of production,” said Moses Djan Asiedu, a cocoa farmer and administrator of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association.
The bill comes as Ghana’s cocoa sector faces mounting challenges, including illegal mining, climate change, disease outbreaks and volatile global prices.
While the government says stronger legal protections are needed to preserve cocoa production, critics argue farmers should receive better incentives rather than harsher punishments.