Aburihene must apologise to Okyehene over ‘galamsey’ comment - Akyem youth

The youth in Akyem have written to the Chief of Aburi, Otubuor Gyan Kwasi II, to render unqualified apology to Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Panin and all chiefs in Okyeman for citing them in illegal mining activities known in the local language as ‘galamsey’.

They youth do not understand why the Aburihene, who is also Akuapem Adontenhene, will accuse the Okyenhene and other chiefs in the Akyem paramouncies for involving themselves in ‘galamsey’ activities knowing very well that the laws of the land is explicit on who all mineral resources found in lands and river bodies in the jurisdiction of Ghana are held in trust.

The Aburihene, according to some media reports, has cited the Okyenhene and some other chiefs in the two Akyem Paramouncies, for contributing to the growing menace of illegal mining by releasing lands to the galamseyers.

But the Okyeman Youth Association, in a statement released in Accra on Monday, April 24, 2017, accused the Nana Otubour Gyan Kwasi II for not being fair to the Chiefs and people of Akyem when available records show that their Chief, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has been a frontrunner in the fight against illegal mining over the years.

Below is the full statement:

OKYEMAN YOUTH ASSOCIATION CONDEMNS ABURIHENE

The Okyeman Youth Association hereby expresses shock and dismay at comments attributed to the Akuapem Adontenhene who is also the Aburihene Otubour Gyan Kwesi that had suggested that the Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin and the other two Akyem paramouncies are complicit in the illegal mining activities popularly called galamsey in the Akyem enclave.

The association wishes to categorically state that the Aburihene should acquaint himself with the laws governing mining in Ghana before making such derogatory remarks against the highly respected Akyem chiefs.

It is worthy to note that the Okyenhene has been a frontrunner in the fight against illegal mining over the years.

His environmental concerns over mining culminated into the establishment of the Okyeman Environment Foundation with special focus on the need for proper mining practices, land reclamation and preservation of forest and water bodies.

It is therefore inaccurate to suggest that the Okyenhene or the other Akyem chiefs are complicit in the destruction of the environment.

The association further wishes to make it known to all others including Nana Aburihene who have assumed that it is the responsibility of chiefs to stop illegal mining that the constitution of Ghana states without any equivocation that all mineral resources found in lands and river bodies in the jurisdiction of this country are held in trust by the President of the Republic of Ghana.

We want to ask Aburihene why he kept quiet since 2009 when the likes of Hon. Baba Jamal, Hon. Ofosu Ampofo and the NDC government started our environment with the so called youth in mining which they deliberately turned into galamsey in Akyem areas just to destroy our water bodies and lands?

The Aburihene should spare us with his hatred and needless finger pointing, what we are looking forward to see now is the best solution what his paymasters started in 2009.

To this end the safeguarding of the environment and its mineral resources is the sole responsibility of the government of Ghana and its devolved institutions and agencies.

The association wishes to call on the mandated institutions such as the EPA,Water Resources Commission, Minerals Commission,Forestry Commission,the Ghana Chamber of Mines,the security services and the government of Ghana in general not to shirk their responsibilities in fighting this illegal mining that has engulfed the whole country with its debilitating effects on the environment.

It is refreshing to note that the recent positive development in the mining sector particularly the clampdown on illegal mining constitutes a vindication of the Okyenhene’s position that the menace of galamsey can only be dealt with by the invocation of coercive apparatus of the state.

The association also joins calls for a halt in illegal mining in and around Okyeman and Ghana at large.

We demand that Nana Otubour Gyan Kwesi to renders an unqualified apology to Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin and all chiefs in Okyeman.

Long live OYA

Long live Okyenhene

Long live Okyeman

Long live Ghana

Signed

Nana Yaw Osene-Akwah Asem

(General Secretary)

Nana Yaw Ampem Darko

(President)

Ama Darkwaa Banning

(Vice President)

Contacts:

0554547843

0244245373

0202118131