The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei II has served notice to punish any of his sub-chiefs caught engaging in illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
The overlord of the Asante Kingdom is backing the government’s renewed fight against the menace by ensuring that traditional leaders are not complicit.
“On my part, I have already warned my chiefs and elders against participation in such illegalities, and I will not hesitate to strongly sanction such infraction,” he stated.
“As a chief, if you give out your lands to be used for galamsey, then what kind of chief are you?” he questioned.
He revealed that he had already received reports of such activities in Amansie and Fomena, which were currently under investigation.
The Asantehene presented a keynote address to commence the Ashanti Regional Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining in Kumasi.
Speaking at KNUST’s Great Hall on Wednesday, May 12, he pointed out that 30 per cent of the audience at the dialogue can identify people involved in galamsey.
“If we don’t speak the truth, we will keep deceiving ourselves with countless dialogues to no avail”.
He said small scale mining was legal and contributed about 40 per cent of Ghana’s gold production.
However, it is fraught with many challenges with a thin line between illegal mining.
The dialogue follows the maiden edition held in Accra.
The Asantehene called on the government to involve traditional authorities because they are custodians of communal lands.
SOURCE: Gossips24.com
