Dunkwa Atekyem Cocoa Farmers Appeal to COCOBOD Over Alleged Sale of 99 Hectares of Cocoa Farms

Cocoa farmers at Dunkwa Atekyem in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality of the Central Region have appealed to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and other relevant authorities to intervene in an alleged dispute over the sale of about 99 hectares of cocoa farms to private estate developers.

The farmers claim that the affected lands have been in their families for generations, with their great-grandparents having acquired the land from the Ayamfuri Chief several centuries ago.

According to them, successive generations have occupied and cultivated the land, relying heavily on cocoa production as their main source of livelihood.

The farmers allege that the Chief of Dunkwa, Nana Obeng Nuakoh III, sold the entire cocoa farming area to private estate developers without consulting them or engaging them in prior negotiations.

They contend that the alleged sale has deprived numerous families of their farms and, consequently, their primary means of income.

The farmers say the development has created severe financial difficulties for affected households, many of whom depend on cocoa farming to provide food, pay school fees and meet other basic needs.

The spokesperson for the distressed cocoa farmers, Mr. Samuel Ofori, appealed to COCOBOD, the traditional authorities, the government and other relevant stakeholders to urgently intervene to prevent further hardship and help resolve the dispute.

He said the farmers had cultivated the land for generations and were concerned about losing their farms without adequate consultation or compensation.

The farmers are therefore calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged sale and for their concerns to be addressed through dialogue and the appropriate legal processes.

When contacted for his response, the Chief of Dunkwa, Nana Obeng Nuakoh III, declined to comment, explaining that the matter was currently before the court.

“The matter is in court, so I cannot comment on the matter that is before the court,” he said.

The farmers are hopeful that the relevant authorities will intervene to ensure a fair resolution of the dispute while protecting the livelihoods of the affected cocoa-growing families.