Abuja, Nigeria — August 13, 2026 – The European Union’s Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), set to take effect in August 2026, is a contentious issue in Ghana. This landmark law, intended to address deforestation in cocoa-producing countries like Ghana, has a significant impact on cocoa farmers but notably excludes gold mining, an activity that significantly contributes to deforestation in the country. Sammy Takyi, a cocoa farmer in Begoro, Eastern Region, embarks on his daily routine among the rows of young cocoa trees.
The cultivation of cocoa is a lengthy process, with trees requiring four to five years of nurturing before yielding a harvest.
In the interim, Takyi employs intercropping, planting plantain trees among the cocoa to ensure his livelihood.
However, the EUDR threatens this delicate balance.
The law is designed to prevent deforestation in the production of goods sold in the EU, yet it omits gold mining, an activity that has caused considerable forest degradation in Ghana.
The discrepancy has stirred concern among cocoa farmers. Kofi Agyemang, an official, commented that attention should be directed towards addressing the root causes of deforestation, rather than targeting vulnerable sectors like cocoa farming. Illegal gold mining, often conducted by unregulated small-scale miners, is a significant contributor to deforestation, destroying thousands of hectares of forest annually.
This activity not only endangers biodiversity but also affects local communities and global climate. While the EUDR is a step towards sustainability, its exclusion of gold mining raises questions about its effectiveness and fairness.
As the law comes into effect, the future of Ghana’s cocoa farmers remains uncertain, with calls for a more balanced approach that addresses all forms of deforestation.
The law’s impact on the cocoa industry and its broader implications for environmental sustainability will be a point of interest for local and international stakeholders alike. Europe’s Deforestation Law Tests Ghana’s Cocoa Farmers, Spares Its Gold Miners — panafricanvisions.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
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This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: Panafricanvisions
Source: Pan African Visions
