The Chief of Ahwerewam in the Ahafo-Ano South East District of the Ashanti region, Oheneba Owusu Ansah Nante Ababio, has denounced galamsey in his community.
He has, therefore, asked Chinese and Ghanaian illegal miners operating within his jurisdiction to stop the illegality within 24-hours or face his wrath.
“Whoever is seen doing galamsey would be met with the great oath of Asantehene,” Oheneba Owusu Ansah Nante Ababio stated, when he sat in state during the swearing-in of five divisional chiefs and regent. They are Benkum, Nifa, Kyedom, Kontehene and MansopaDikro.
The aggrieved traditional leader said he would not sit down unconcerned for violent illegal miners, to destroy water bodies and lands in his traditional area.
“The act of hooliganism in the community, whereby people are attacked and killed all in the name of galamsey has ended; I will not sit aloof for my water bodies to be polluted and my land destroyed,” Oheneba Ansah Nante asserted.
He regretted that though the menace was thriving in the area, all the chiefs have denied knowledge.
“Everyone is saying that they are unaware about how galamsey came here, but there are elders in the community”, he said.
Oheneba Owusu Ansah insisted that galamsey was an abominable act in the sight of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and that all galamsey activities in the area must cease.
“Galamsey is an abomination to Otumfuo Osei Tutu and based on the powers vested in me by my father –Asantehene, from today onwards, I have banned galamsey in this community,” he declared.
He has, therefore, asked those involved to leave. “Those who are here doing galamsey, including foreigners, should pack their luggage and leave. If you have a machine here, I am giving you 24-hours to take them away from Ahwerewam.If you fail to do so, you have yourself to blame.”
Oheneba Ansah told the community that he would engage his elders about how the youth in Ahwerewam could benefit from a responsible community mining scheme.
“There are laid down procedures for mining and my elders, myself and the government would put in place proper measures for community mining to be brought to Ahwerewam for the youth to be employed.”
He also banned invocation of curses at Ahwerewam, saying “whoever invokes curses on someone has committed a taboo.
Advising the newly sworn divisional chiefs and regent, Oheneba Ansahimplored them to uphold their words else they would lose their positions.
“When a stool becomes vacant, we vie for it, so once you have been sworn in as a chief, unite with your contenders and families. If you become a leader, you are to serve your people for the betterment of the community.”
