From Cocoa farming to galamsey

If you've ever been close to a Cocoa farmer in Ghana before you would know that Cocoa farming in the area is done somewhat differently than how it is explained on the radio or T.V news. When your average farmers look at their cocoa trees, they only see financial burdens and debt. There was never a shortage of cocoa pods over the years, but the roof of the farmers' homes always leaked, that's what the struggle does. Then there was a period when gold became a really big deal in Ghana. I'm not talking about the past when it was called gold coast. I'm talking about Galamsey, a term we use for small scale mining.

Galamsey gave some of them the money to buy a bag of cement for the roof and pay their children’s school fees for a week and more.

Even though there is still a muddy river, some people still have to find food to eat. The lack of food can sometimes turn your attention to things less meaningful that can lead to devasting outcomes like the pollution of the river and destruction of the soil. It doesn't mean they're not to be blamed for doing illegal mining.

A man who used to be a member of my church went into galamsey and did very well digging for gold. He bought himself a new car and built a mansion from his profit and two months later sold the car for a bigger one. The people say the most important part is the environment and perhaps it is. The Cocoa Board has not sent the farmers much of the promised chemicals since last December. The weather today is extremely bad and is definitely going to affect the farmers. Every time the experts come to talk about the future in T.V talkshows, I only want to talk about my breakfast tomorrow morning.