Dr. Steve Manteaw, Co-Chair of the Ghana Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (GHEITI), has expressed deep frustration over the security agencies’ apparent lack of proactive measures in the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
According to him, the failure of law enforcement to take swift and decisive action against those involved is undermining the country’s efforts to curb the destructive activity.
Speaking at a dissemination workshop on the 2021/2022 Mining, Oil, and Gas report held in Sunyani, Dr. Manteaw underscored the severity of the situation by referencing a recent incident in the Asante Region. He pointed out that the chiefs of Sabromum, who were destooled by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for their alleged involvement in illegal mining, should have been arrested and prosecuted by now. However, no such action has been taken by the security forces, leading him to question their commitment to the anti-galamsey crusade.
He noted that illegal mining continues to devastate the environment, with water bodies, farmlands, and forests being particularly hard-hit, despite public outcry and political pledges to combat the menace. Dr. Manteaw emphasized that the fight against galamsey should not only rest on traditional authorities but should also be a priority for law enforcement agencies, whose duty it is to uphold the law and bring perpetrators to justice.
“The security agencies need to be more responsive and proactive. It’s not enough for chiefs to be destooled; arrests and prosecutions should follow to send a strong signal that illegal mining will not be tolerated in any form,” he asserted.
Dr. Manteaw also called for a more coordinated and transparent approach in addressing illegal mining, urging the government to strengthen the legal framework surrounding the extractive industries. He argued that without proper enforcement of regulations, the country risks losing valuable resources to illicit activities, which in turn affect the economy and the livelihoods of ordinary Ghanaians.
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Story by: Osei Akoto (Teacher Kojo) #Ahotoronline.com
