The Chief of Akyem Hemang Osabarima Mmrikissi Okasum Apori Atta has boldly stated illegal miners commonly known as galamseyers must be treated as murderers.
According to the Chief of Akyem Hemang, there are so many laws but the actors or implementers will not enforce them.
The chief further added that he does not believe in seizing equipment and putting it somewhere.
He asserted that equipment must be burnt to ashes and the person found guilty must be treated as a murderers.
Speaking passionately, the Chief of Akyem Hemang Osabarima Mmrikissi Okasum Apori Atta stated, “So many laws, but the actors or implementers will not enforce them because security services and regulators are supposed to act, yet they do nothing,” he lamented.
“When they destroy our water bodies, I can buy [water], but what about the poor man who cannot? When they cannot buy, they will turn on us and start complaining. Don’t complain—destroy it, destroy it!” he proclaimed.
“I don’t believe in seizing equipment and putting it somewhere, only for another government to return it to them. We should burn it to ashes and, if possible, arrest them and treat them as murderers,” he emphasised.
Meanwhile, As part of efforts to fight illegal mining activities in Ghana, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has revoked all mining licenses issued after December 7, 2024.
The decision by the government is aimed at tackling the widespread environmental degradation of forest reserves and water bodies caused by illegal mining activities.
”We had set up a Working Committee to review the current licensing regime and propose recommendations and a comprehensive strategy to tackle the issue of illegal mining. The committee has presented their findings and we are here to provide an update to the Ghanaian people. Revoking all licenses issued since December 7th, 2024,” he said.
”Existing Community Mining Schemes are in name only, although the basis for which they were founded was to benefit the community. However, the findings indicate that this is not the case hence, they are to be disbanded and replaced with Small-Scale Cooperatives that actually serve and benefit the communities. These cooperatives will be formed after due diligence with the communities involved so they properly represent the communities,” he said.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah made this known at a press briefing on the ministry’s policies and programmes. He also revealed that seven out of nine forest reserves affected by illegal mining have been successfully reclaimed.
The Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Hon. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammad has also reiterated his viewpoint that the galamsey fight is a moral battle for the protection of Ghanaian lives.
Hon. Murtala Muhammad who described the galamsey menace as an act of terrorism warned even members of the NDC who are caught to be behind the menace will not be spared from the punitive actions that the government will take against galamsey.
