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Ciku Kimeria is a Kenyan author "Of goats and poisoned oranges" - (https://www.amazon.com/goats-poisoned-oranges-Ciku-Kimeria-ebook/dp/B00HBBWPI6), development consultant, adventurer and travel blogger (www.thekenyanexplorer.com). She writes both fiction and non-fiction focusing on African stories that need telling. She has worked on diverse pieces for various international and local publications including Quartz, Ozy, The East African etc. She has travelled to 45 countries – 16 of them in Africa. 153 countries to go and 63 territories!
"Of goats and poisoned oranges" has been extremely well received in Kenya and beyond. It tells the story of a Kenyan middle aged power couple and their complicated marriage. The novel explores issues of greed, revenge, betrayal and murder. It runs from the 1960s to 2013. It has been described as “Wicked, funny, poignant, wacky, human, a big ball of fun and danger”, “A unique and captivating book”, “Fun and intriguing”, “Impossible to put down once you start reading.”
She recently moved to Dakar, Senegal from Kenya to work on her second novel. She also works at as the Africa Communication Manager at a leading global strategy consulting firm.
She holds a B.S. in Management Science from MIT with minors in Urban Planning and International development studies.
Illegal Gold Mining In Ghana And How It's Linked To Your Cocoa
When cocoa farmers in Ghana's central region sold or leased their land to miners for gold excavation, they had no idea that their activities were going to destroy their farms and their livelihood.
"When the Chinese came, they told me that my plants were not yielding anymore because there was so much gold under the soil,” Asare said. After a few years of low production, he sold his 14 acres to a group of small-scale gold miners, also called galamsey miners, with a Chinese sponsor. The money is gone now and Asare’s land is poisoned.
The cocoa market is a volatile one with the price of the beans reaching historic lows in the recent years, negatively impacting farmers' profits. There are several other threats to cocoa production including climate change, but illegal mining (galamsey) is considered the greatest threat.
Gold and cocoa are both integral parts of Ghana’s economy and national identity, yet the two resources’ coexistence has contradictions.
Most of the small scale mining operations do not have permits and many are involved in illegal activities such as using mercury or heavy equipment.
Ghana is the world’s second largest cocoa exporter, contributing 20 percent of the world’s supply. More than 70 percent of cocoa beans come from West Africa.
The mining activities poison waterways with heavy metals and chemicals such as lead, mercury, and cyanide. Mercury poisoning can wipe out entire crop populations and stunt crop growth.
The dangers the miners face underground are many. Workers drown when mines flood or die due to unsafe use of dynamite.
A global cocoa shortage is expected by 2020 and the illegal mining activities in Ghana threaten to make the situation worse. This, the negative impact on the environment and the danger to miners will all lead to a troubling conclusion if action is not taken.
