It will be very difficult for any chief in Ghana to stop illegal mining commonly referred to in Ghana as galamsey. This according to the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin.
According to the chief, the fight is beyond traditional rulers because they do not have the power which lies completely at the doorsteps of central government.
“Yes, there may be some chiefs clandestinely doing this [galamsey], but I can tell you, I’m not holding brief for them, most of what goes on is beyond the chief’s power,” he said.
Some Ghanaians have accused chiefs of conniving with the illegal miners to perpetuate the activity with impunity. They complained that because the chiefs are the custodians of the lands, such activity cannot be undertaken on their lands without their permission.
The Okyenhene speaking in an exclusive interview with host of the Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle, explained that they [the chiefs] are only custodians of the land, but “what is underneath the land does not belong to chiefs.”
“The constitution says it clearly, that gold is the property of the Republic of Ghana and the president is vested with that power on behalf and in trust of the people. So the gold according to the constitution has to be protected and looked after by the president. So any chief who happens to grant land to any galamseyer to do galamsey is first in violation of the law. Most of what you hear is not chiefs granting lands, its individual farmers who are approached by these galamseyers to buy their land and then they proceed to inform the chief that the minerals commission has issued me a license to come and do this and so these persons have granted me the land and so they give the chief, what we call drink money,” he added.
I don’t condone galamsey – Okyenhene replies critics
Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, also rubbished allegations that he condones illegal mining. The Okyenhene has been criticized for looking unconcerned while illegal miners destroy water bodies and lands within the Akyem Abuakwa state, but in an exclusive interview with host of the Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle on Tuesday, Ofori Panin said his critics were either ignorant or mischievous.
#StopGalamseyNow
There has been a lot of pressure on government in recent times to stop illegal miners from polluting water bodies and farmlands. Analysts have predicted that Ghana may soon import water if the trend persists.
Source: citifmonline.com
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Nana Okyehene, I beg, please stop this koraaa You came in as a champion of the environment. When was the last time you spoke against galamsey? Please don't disgrace H.E. Akufo Addo. Just keep quiet!! How can a person acquire land and dig for minerals without the consent of the local traditional rulers? Please stop. You are making my pressure go up.
the most annoying part of it is that,you don't even see the positive impact on the lives of these boys doing galamsey after destroying the society.they remain as poor than before.
this okyehene is a criminal and a liar.you are the mastermind behind this illegal operations concerning galamsey since time immemorial. you have allowed your akyem people who only love funerals and akpeteshie to destroy all cocoa farms,water bodies and palm trees at your own backyard.shame to you amoatia,you have disappointed your own people and ghana at large like the way akufo addo is destroying ghana as a president. shame onto you akyem people.
Akyem Hemanhene is able to prevent mining in his domain. People from your palace rather encourage deforestation of Okyeman baamu and mining in the baamus of towns surrounding Heman (Nsuapemso, Osino).
You can actually help stop it, if you want. The problems with those Chiefs are that the vast majority of them are corrupt, short sighted and greedy. They are not law abiding and lack discipline. To me all areas where the land , water bodies have been damaged/polluted by this Galam Sayers should be dethroned. They don't deserve to be Chiefs/kings, and what ever you may call them. How can you deprive the future generation and the generation unborn of beautiful sceneries and rivers which once dotted around the country.
Nana Paa, come again. Yes, you are only custodians of the land, but “what is underneath the land does not belong to chiefs.” But before they get underneath the land, they step on your land and you have the moral authority to ensure that due diligence is done. where are the gods you made my ancestors believe in? Clearly, we need a reformation of the whole chieftaincy thin in ghana. #Demonstrate against sleeping chiefs!
THIS ABUAKWA CHIEF OFIRI -PANIN IS A ROGUE AND A THIFF ; THE MAN HAS SUB CHIEFS FRONTING FOR HIM IN THIS GALAMASEY BUSINESS AND GETTING HIS CUT FROM THE BUSINESS ; GALAMASEY CAN BE STOPPED BY THE CHIEFS IF THEY WANT IT IS SIMPLE AS THAT ; THE WHOLE PRACTICE OF GALAMASEY SHOULD STOPPED STARTING FROM THE CIVIL SERVANTS IN ACCRA ; IS THIS NOT A DISGRACE TO ABUAKWA :YOU HAVE SAT DOWN FOR YEARS AND THE WHOLE ABUAKWA LAND HAVE BEEN WASTED FOR GOLD DIGGING .