Ghana parliament backs tough cocoa farm protections, with up to 20 years in prison
The law would make it a crime to repurpose cocoa farms without approval, with penalties of up to 20 years in prison, officials said.
- On Thursday, Ghana's parliament passed legislation granting all cocoa farms protected status and criminalizing unauthorized repurposing with prison terms of up to 20 years. President John Mahama has not yet signed the measure.
- Volatile international cocoa futures surged past $12,000 per metric ton in 2024 before crashing to around $4,000 as supply outstripped demand, prompting the government to seek tighter production control through this legal framework.
- Moses Djan Asiedu, administrator of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association Limited, criticized the measure as unfair, noting farmers invest their own resources while cocoa generates nearly 15% of Ghana's export revenue.
- In neighboring Ivory Coast, cocoa exports account for 40% of total revenue, mirroring Ghana's economic reliance. The bill imposes prison sentences of 10 to 20 years for illegal gold mining and heavy fines per affected tree.
- While the measure passed Thursday, its contents remained undisclosed until late Sunday, drawing public attention only after release. President John Mahama's signature is now required to formalize the protections for the nation's vital cocoa sector.
23 Articles
23 Articles
Eye on Africa - Up to 20 years in jail for cocoa land repurpose in Ghana
In tonight's edition, Ghana's parliament cracks down on the sale or repurposing of land used to grow the country's most important crop. Also, DR Congo is set to open its largest ever Ebola treatment…
Associated Press News
Ghana parliament backs tough cocoa farm protections, with up to 20 years in prison
Ghana's parliament has passed a bill that could imprison cocoa farmers for up to 20 years if they convert their farms without government approval.
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 govt approval
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 […] The post Ghana’s Parliament has passed a controversial bill that could see cocoa farmers ja…
The Ghanaian Parliament has adopted a draft law providing for the punishment of up to 20 years in prison for cocoa growers who work their agricultural land for other purposes, without approval...
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