KEY POINTS
- Dormaahene gives the government one month to end illegal mining.
- UTAG and GBA also call for urgent action on Galamsey.
- Chiefs threaten to reclaim lands if the government fails to act.
Dormaahene and the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II, have issued a stern warning to the government on Galamsey.
The chiefs have tasked the authorities to within one month cease the act of Galamsey within; otherwise, the angry chiefs of Ghana are ready for the unguarded taking over of tracts of land under threat by the rampant unlawful miners.
Speaking to the former president and the current NDC flag bearer, John Dramani Mahama, the Dormaahene let out his frustration over the havoc that Galamsey has wrecked on the country’s forests, rivers, and communities.
He said; “We are giving this government one month to use legal avenues to fight Galamsey. Deploy the police and soldiers to protect the forests, If you fail to do so, we, the chiefs shall reclaim our land and stop all the mining operations.”
Galamsey: A Growing Threat
Galamsey has since remained a major social problem in Ghana due to its havoc on the environment. Illegal miners have ravaged forests, polluted rivers, and destroyed farmland in search of gold. Despite government efforts to curb the practice, it continues to be a major problem.
The Dormaahene, who is also a High Court judge, has threatened that the chiefs will retrieve their land if the government does not act.
Pressure from Other Groups
Galamsey is destructive; hence, the chief is not the only one who is demanding an end to the menace. Similarly, the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has enforced that there should be no mining of gold deposits in sensitive areas, particularly the river and the forest. A statement was signed by nine of the UTAG presidents, reflecting that the association said all forms of Galamsey should stop to safeguard the environment.
According to MyJoyOnline, the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has equally condemned the government over its handling of the fight against the illegal mining menace. Galamsey has recently been politicized, which according to the GBA is irresponsible and regrettable.
The demands from these key groups reflect the growing pressure on the government to take real and lasting action against illegal mining. With major institutions and traditional leaders raising their voices, the government faces mounting challenges to resolve the Galamsey crisis.
