Paramount Chief of the Ashanti Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has vowed to deal with any sub chief in the area whose lands have been completely occupied by illegal miners.
The Asantehene stated during a general assembly of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs that all traditional leaders who are directly complicit in the region’s illegal mining activities must be questioned.
“Next year, any chief whose lands have been invaded will have to be summoned and questioned. If we visit your land, and it has been destroyed by ‘galamsey’ activities, we will question why you watched unconcerned for the lands and water bodies under your custody to be harmed. And if you’re unable to give valid reasons, we will sanction you so you learn a lesson and protect your land from the havoc,” he noted.
His comment was in response to an appeal by chiefs in the Ashanti Region to be granted summoning powers to help in the fight against ‘galamsey.’
Addressing the House, Otumfuor, who was baffled by the rise of galamsey activities in the region, said that the chiefs shouldn’t stand by while unlawful mining activities devastate arable farmlands and water bodies.
He lamented the inability of the chiefs to control the canker and said that those who do not oppose illegal concessions have contributed to the never-ending struggle against “galamsey.”’
Illegal mining remains one of the biggest challenges the nation has had to deal with, despite various measures adopted by successive governments to curb the menace.
Ghana has, over the years, lost lots of its virgin forest, land resources, and water bodies to galamsey.
The current administration, led by President Akufo-Addo, launched the Operation Halt taskforce, also in an attempt to deal with galamsey.
However, little progress has been achieved due to the sea of corruption allegations against some members of the taskforce.
In a 2021 report aired by JoyNews, it was revealed that fully armed military officers provided protection to miners destroying the forest reserves of Manso in the Ashanti Region.
It is against this background that the Paramount Chief of Asante Mampong, Daasebere Osei Bonsu II, questioned the deployment of security forces to offer unauthorised protection to unlawful mining operations in several forest areas.
“Some chiefs are worried. They sometimes visit illegal mining sites and would see the miners being protected by the Military or Police. Who sent the Police or soldiers there? If you were to ask the Ashanti Regional Commander who deployed them there, he wouldn’t be able to substantiate their deployment. Why must this happen?,” the occupant of the Silver Stool of the Asante kingdom quizzed.
Meanwhile, the government this year launched a raid to clamp down on illegal miners. During a special operation conducted in September this year by the Operation Halt taskforce, 164 people were arrested.
Government has indicated that it will not relent in its efforts to deal with the canker.
Source: The Independent Ghana