The Paramount Chief of Lower Axim Traditional Area (LATA), Awulae Attibrukusu III, has called on the government to punish those engaged in illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey”, to deter others who may be contemplating joining them to destroy the environment.
The paramount chief has also called on the Mahama government to review the Legislative Instrument on illegal mining in the interest to salvage the country’s river bodies and forest reserves.
Awulae Attibrukusu III,who was speaking to the media during a Traditional Council meeting held recently at Axim, also advised the government to prioritise the setting up of special courts to fast track the prosecution of galamsey offenders.
The Lower Axim Paramount chief was worried that some politicians and chiefs sometimes use their positions to engage in galamsey and asked the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the President to discourage that practice.
He used the occasion to particularly caution chiefs in Ghana especially those under his jurisdiction who are involved in illegal mining to halt the practice or be arrested, prosecuted and dethroned. He served noticed to his sub-chiefs that he would not support them should they be arrested for doing illegal mining.
He reminded traditional rulers who indulge in galamsey or lease part of their lands for that activity of an arrest and prosecution as well as destoolment.” Any of my chiefs who is found culpable of involving himself or herself in galamsey should consider him/her dethroned,” he warned.
Awulae Attibrukusu III wondered why Chiefs would sit down unconcerned for machines such as excavators to be smuggled into the bush and river bodies in the name of galamsey. The paramount chief pleaded with his subordinates to help government in the fight against galamsey, which is having a devastating effect on river bodies and forest reserves.
He stressed that traditional rulers should act as vanguards to nip galamsey activities in the bud. He cited babies born with deformities and pre-mature deaths as well as destruction of our agricultural lands as some of the reasons the galamsey war must be won.
Awulae Attibrukusu III commended the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, for the bold initiatives he had taken so far to curb the menace.
The Paramount Chief said with the political will being demonstrated by the government coupled with the help of traditional rulers as well as the anti-galamsey task force, galamsey activities might soon be a thing of the past.
