You have a role to play in fighting galamsey; you can’t run away from blame – Otumfuo tells chiefs

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The Asantehene Otumfou Osei Tutu II has scolded chiefs who give out their lands for illegal small scale mining activities (Galamsey).

He said although state authorities have their share of the blame, the chiefs cannot run way from flak following the effect of galamsey on the water bodies and the environment in general.

Addressing chiefs at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Friday October 14, he said ” any traditional ruler who gives lands for galamsey must be questioned. Can’t you see the degradation of the environment you move around your areas?

“Yes the government has questions to answer but you also have questions to answer.”

Recently, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo told the National House of Chiefs that collaborative effort is required to nip galamsey in the bud.

“Since I took office I have made it a central feature of my presidency to lead in the efforts to rid our country of this menace which we all now call galamsey. It has not been popular and we have not got the result that I was looking for,” Mr Akufo-Addo said during a meeting with the National House of Chiefs and the Municipal, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in Kumasi on Wednesday October 5.

Mr Akufo-Addo explained that 80 per cent of the lands in Ghana  are in the custody of the chiefs.

This means they have a role to play in protecting the resource, he said.

He said “80 per cent of the lands in this country continue to be under your custody, much of it having been acquired through the blood and sacrifices of your ancestors. The reminder of 20 per cent which I hold in trust of the people of Ghana, derived from state acquisition  from you. What this means is that ultimately, the welfare of the state of the lands is our  joint responsibility, although by statute the minerals in the soil belong to the president in trust for the people.”

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The chiefs on their part assured Mr Akufo-Addo that they are solidly behind his administration to apply appropriate measures against all persons involved in Galamsey in the country.

President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyeb indicated that galamsey is having a negative effect on the environment and also threatens revenue mobilsation in the country hence, their resolve to support the President and government in fighting it.

He said “your relentless war against forest degradation and illegal mining in Ghana is of great importance to Ghanaians especially we the chiefs.

“The effects of illegal mining on the environment threaten the survival of water bodies , farmlands, cocoa industry and even encouraging school dropouts, this undermins the revenue mobilsation drive in the country.

“In view of this development [the Chiefs] are solidly behind your administration to apply the appropriate sanctions against persons who are engaged in the practice illegal mining irrespective of their status.”

By Laud Nartey|3news.com|Ghana