Farmer jailed for destroying 68 cocoa trees

A Tarkwa magistrate court has sentenced Samuel Asamoah, a 25-year-old farmer, to 18 months in prison with hard labour for damaging a fellow farmer’s cocoa farm at Huniso.

Asamoah pleaded guilty to unlawfully destroying 68 mature cocoa trees, some of which had fruits on them.

Police prosecutor Inspector Patrick Essien told the court that the complainant, Bukari Imoro, and Asamoah are both farmers living at Anokyekrom, near Huniso in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality. Their farms, the prosecution said, are located far apart.

In April 2025, Asamoah allegedly went to Imoro’s farm on two occasions and chopped down 68 cocoa trees.

Imoro later visited his farm and found the trees felled. He suspected Asamoah, partly due to what the prosecution described as his prior conduct in the community.

The matter was first reported to local leaders, but the prosecution said Asamoah ignored a summons to appear before them.

After that, Imoro reportedly heard that Asamoah had been boasting about the destruction and threatening to cut down more trees—and that more damage followed.

Imoro then reported the case to the Tarkwa Police on 6 April 2025, leading to Asamoah’s arrest.

During investigations, police said Asamoah admitted he destroyed the cocoa trees but could not give a clear reason for doing so.