It hasn’t been easy, according to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to battle unlawful small-scale mining (Galamsey).
He claimed that although the administration is committed to defeating the threat, he has not yet seen the outcomes he was hoping for in the fight. “Since taking office, I have made it a priority of my presidency to take the lead in efforts to rid our nation of this threat that we all now refer to as galamsey. It hasn’t been well-liked, and we haven’t gotten the outcome I was hoping for,” Mr. Akufo-Addo stated on October 5 in Kumasi during a meeting with the Municipal, Metropolitan, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and the National House of Chiefs. Founder Nana Addo.
He also explained to the National House of Chiefs that the government and traditional leaders share responsibilities for safeguarding the environment and lands from Galamsey’s effects. According to Mr. Akufo-Addo, the chiefs are in charge of 80% of the lands in Ghana. This implies that they have a responsibility to safeguard the resource, he said. He also explained to the National House of Chiefs that the government and traditional leaders share responsibilities for safeguarding the environment and lands from Galamsey’s effects. According to Mr. Akufo-Addo, the chiefs are in charge of 80% of the lands in Ghana. They therefore play a part 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.”
On their part, the chiefs told Mr. Akufo-Addo that they fully support his administration’s decision to take necessary action against anyone engaging in galamsey throughout the nation. Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyeb, President of the National House of Chiefs, stated that the National House of Chiefs are determined to help the President and government in their fight against galamsey since it affects the country’s ability to generate money and has a bad impact on the environment. On their part, the chiefs told Mr. Akufo-Addo that they fully support his administration’s decision to take necessary action against anyone engaging in galamsey throughout the nation. Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyeb, the president of the National House of Chiefs, stated that galamsey is having a bad impact on the environment and also poses a threat to the nation’s ability to mobilize income.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.
