Outspoken Ghanaian politician and Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has reiterated that chiefs and politicians are the main reasons behind the rapid expansion and thriving of illegal mining activities in Ghana.
He intimated the fight against illegal mining can only be stopped if Ghanaians are bold to speak the truth without any reservations.
“The problem is from the constituencies. I can also tell you some of the chiefs are also involved, it is not only politicians. If you want to stop it (galamsey) you should be bold to speak the truth. Some of the chiefs are also involved. I heard a chief complaining about politicians (and their involvement in galamsey) …..some of the chiefs are also involved (in galamsey),” he said.
According to him, his own constituency is suffering from illegal mining backed by some chiefs. Kennedy Agyepong revealed he has a video from his constituency where some illegal miners were mining in the Prah River.
“I have a video in my own constituency it was sad, the River Prah. I went there and interviewed the guys they didn’t know I was the parliamentary because they are not from there. I asked them how did you get there. They said we gave the chief Ghc2,000 and a sheep,” he revealed in the interview.
Ghana is losing the fight against galamsey as the country has recorded an all-time high destruction of water bodies and forests. The fight against galasmey has become especially difficult as there have been reports of politicians, chiefs and some influential persons in society being involved in the menace.
Some of the chiefs are involved in galamsey; it is not only politicians – Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong#TV3GH pic.twitter.com/zdSjzIFbfg
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) September 13, 2024