By:Myjoyonline

In a compelling LinkedIn post, Farmerline Group has spotlighted a critical issue unfolding in Ghana’s Ashanti Region - women clearing cocoa farms in search of gold.

This haunting image of illegal mining exposes a much deeper problem: the rising cost of living is pushing many farmers to abandon their cocoa farms in favour of short-term gains from illegal mining, even as the global chocolate industry enjoys profits valued at over $130 billion.

“Farmers shouldn’t have to choose between their land and their survival,” the post boldly declares.

This simple yet profound statement underscores the stark reality facing many cocoa farmers in Ghana, the world’s second-largest cocoa producer.

Despite the cocoa industry’s global success, many farmers, the backbone of this thriving sector, are trapped in a difficult cycle of poverty.

While the global market for cocoa remains reliable, the income it provides is often insufficient to cover the rising costs of farming, support families, and sustain communities.