Ghana Parliament Passes Bill Criminalizing Cocoa Farm Conversion

The Parliament of Ghana passed a bill on Thursday that grants protected status to all cocoa farms, criminalizing the repurposing of these lands for other uses without government approval. The legislation specifically targets the conversion of farms for illegal gold mining, introducing severe penalties including heavy fines and prison sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years.

President John Mahama has not yet signed the bill into law. The measure arrives as cocoa exports continue to serve as a primary economic driver for the country, contributing nearly 15% of total export revenue.

The legislation has faced backlash from industry representatives. Moses Djan Asiedu, Administrator of the Ghana Cooperative Cocoa Farmers and Marketing Association Limited, argued the law is unfair because the government does not provide sufficient support for production costs.