Members of the National House of Chiefs are pushing for the amendment of the EPA Act to empower traditional authorities to effectively aid government agencies in the fight against galamsey.
At the end of a one-day roundtable discussion with officials of the Environmental Protection Agency, members of the House also proposed the setting up of special courts to prosecute offenders of illegal mining and logging expeditiously.
These proposals are contained in a communique issued after a meeting with the EPA on January 25.
Some other proposals made by the National House of Chiefs in the communique co-signed by the President, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II and Registrar, Anthony Yeboah Tabiri are:
1. The adoption of the concept of naming and shaming of MMDAs and Traditional Areas complicit in the activities of illegal mining
2. Proposed amendment to the EPA Act to empower Nananom to form a task force to enable them fight the illegal mining menace effectively.
3. A possible engagement with political parties on the inclusion of the eradication of all illegal mining activities in their various manifestoes.
4. Additionally, traditional authorities must be made members on Boards of the respective regulatory institutions.
Read full communique below:
