The Asantehene, His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, wants financiers of illegal mining ( galamsey) in the Ashanti Region to be exposed rather than being shielded.
He expresses concern that the real culprits behind galamsey are being protected while the labourers who work for pittances in the illegal mining sites are arrested.
Speaking in his native Asante Twi, the King said it is preposterous for chiefs in the Ashanti Region to pretend they don’t know galamsey is ongoing in their communities, and who the financiers are.
Regrettably, he said, the labourers are arrested and their photographs were taken to pretend something good is being done to combat illegal mining.
The King asks whether these labourers have the money to buy the excavators and changfan machines used for galamsey.
“ It is somebody who has bought all this expensive equipment. These labourers have no jobs so they take them as casual workers and pay them small amounts of money.”
Otumfuo says illegal miners smuggle out the gold denying the government foreign exchange to develop the nation. The gold goes through the airport and nobody sees them.
<<Print>>