Editorial : Illegal miners now invading rubber plantations?

One of the ways developing countries use in improving upon their economic status in this turbulent world is direct foreign investment. Ghana has, indeed, adopted this policy, and has, over the years, wooed foreign investors to come and invest in our economy, which is producing results.

Some years back, it was a herculean task for one to call his or her relative living outside the country. In fact, the caller had to go and queue at then Ghana Post and Telecommunication Corporation for hours before the opportunity is given for him to speak to his relative.

But, following the aggressive investment drive by successive governments, the situation is not the same today. People living in the remotest parts of Ghana now have access to telephone services. Apart from this, it is also now easy to use telecommunication platforms to transfer money to any part of Ghana in addition to internet services, which has reached major parts of the country.

Heavy investment has also gone to the energy sector, resulting in the striking of oil in commercial quantities. But for this huge investment in the sector, it would have been very difficult for the Akufo-Addo government to roll out her Free Senior High School policy, which has helped to raise the educational ladder. We can also not be talking about investment without mentioning the aviation and banking sectors, which have all seen total transformation.

It is all these achievements that have helped to catapult our economy to a lower middle income status that The Chronicle is worried about the alleged invasion of rubber plantations in the Western Region owned by Ghana Rubber Estates Limited (GREL) by illegal miners.

According to a story we have carried at our centre pages today, the company, has invested about 550,000 Euros into the cultivation of the plantation, and also investing 25 million euros into the construction of a factory to process raw materials from the same plantation.

GREL started as a small private plantation established by R.T. Briscoe in 1957 at Dixcove, with a plantation size of 923 hectares. The plantation was nationalised into the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC) in 1960 and later, State Farms Corporation in 1962. Because of our foreign investment drive, the company has now been transformed, with majority of the farmers in the Western Region depending on it for survival through their out growers scheme.

Since investors expect returns on their investment, The Chronicle does not think it is right for the government to stand aloof whilst these marauding illegal miners are destroying the plantation. Such an attitude would send wrong signals to would-be investors who may be contemplating of coming to invest in our economy.

The Chronicle is, therefore, appealing to National Security to marshal its forces and stop the illegal miners before they ruin such a huge investment by private individuals.

Illegal mining has been with Ghana for centuries, but it has taken devastating forms in recent years. Our forest vegetation and water resources are being depleted as a result of illegal mining. Though the government declared war on these miners about two years ago, she seems to have lost the battle, as there are reports that their activities have intensified in the remote areas of the country.

We should not allow GREL to also fall victim to these illegal invasions, hence, our call on the government to sit up and do the needful – sack the illegal miners from the concession for the investors to have peace to work and earn profit on their investment.

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