Flagbearer of the All People’s Congress (APC), Dr. Hassan Ayariga, has urged the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to use his influence to put an end to illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, in the Ashanti Region.
Ayariga argued that Otumfuo’s authority in the region surpasses that of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, making the Asantehene well-placed to address the environmental destruction caused by galamsey.
His appeal comes amid growing concerns over the damage illegal mining is causing to water bodies, farmlands, and cocoa plantations.
In an interview on Oyerepa TV on October 9, 2024, Ayariga stressed that no mining company can operate in the Ashanti Region without the approval of the Asantehene, suggesting that a directive from Otumfuo could immediately halt illegal mining operations.
“There is only one person in Ghana who can stop illegal mining, and that person is the Asantehene, the people of Ashanti respect their King more than they respect the President because their King is for life. If the Asantehene says, stop galamsey, everything will stop,” oyerepaonline.com quoted him to have said.
He continued, “…Nobody, no mining company can mine in the Ashanti Region without the authority of Asantehene. That company dares not.
“So, if Asantehene wants to stop people from mining in Ashanti because they are destroying his water bodies, he should just make one call and tell his boys to stop them and they’ll stop because he’s more powerful to stop them than even the president of Ghana.
“The king and his people must protect their country because their children and grandchildren will suffer the consequences of this menace. If there’s too much destruction of water bodies, farmlands, and cocoa lands, the Asantehene should step in and make that call to stop galamsey.”