Daasebre Dr. Asumadu Appiah, the Chief of Akyem Wenchi in the Eastern region has expressed scepticism about the possibility of winning the fight against illegal mining popularly known as galamsey in his jurisdiction.
The Oseawuohene explained that the lack of employment opportunities in the area makes it extremely difficult to weed out galamsey which is said to be destroying Ghana’s vegetation and water bodies.
Making the remarks during a visit by the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, Daasebre Dr Asumadu Appiah said “As for the galamsey, it is not something we can stop if you tell us to stop.”
The government declared war on illegal mining activities with the introduction of Operation Halt and Operation Galamstop in recent years, all in hopes of fighting the practice but it continues to persist across major mining areas in the country.
The chief told Vice President Bawumia and the gathering that it would be challenging to stop the practice without alternative livelihoods for mining communities.
“We don’t have any job opportunities within our community; the only job here is galamsey. As for the galamsey, it is not something we can stop if you tell us to stop. So all we asking is that you give us good policies and guidelines to do it.
“That is all we are asking from you that bring us those policies. You guys have said we should do community mining so for instance, I have sent an application to the district to do it.”
Daasebre Dr. Asumadu Appiah also called for the prominent involvement of traditional leaders in the exploration of precious minerals in the country.
The NPP’s flagbearer on his part, pledged to strengthen the licensing regime if he is elected president in the upcoming December polls to ensure sustainable mining.
“I think we haven’t gotten it right. For me, I think we should help small-scale mining and if we can do it well, Ghana will also do well. We need a licensing regime to make it easy so that people can acquire the license to work.”
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