Galamsey Fight: Some Chiefs are involved; it hasn't been easy - Buaben Asamoah

The Member of Parliament for Adentan Constituency who doubles as the Communications Director for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Hon. Yaw Buaben Asamoah, has conceded that in spite of regulations formulated by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Small Scale Mining set by President Nana Akufo-Addo to stop illegal mining activities in the country, it is still a difficult task as operators are always in the forests and not in towns.

Speaking in an interview on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Hon. Buaben Asamoah claimed it is an open secret that some chiefs are involved in the galamsey business.

“ . . some chiefs are involved and other chiefs are against it . . . the real battle is stopping illegal mining and ensuring the regularized miners alone operate within the laws of the land . . . we all know this is a difficult task as the operations of illegal miners are in the forest . . . the fight against galamsey is very necessary,” he stated.

To him, it is an undeniable fact that every Ghanaian will be affected if the illegal mining is not fought head-on as the activities keep increasing, but reminded Ghanaians that President Akufo-Addo has come to stop mining which has been in existence for many years except the illegal ones.

“We cannot stop mining which is regulated by law, whether small scale or large scale mining. We have been mining for ages and that is why President Akufo-Addo said he has not come to stop mining which has been in existence for many years legally but rather the problem is those operating without license and those who operate with license but its activities are done illegally, destroying water bodies, forests and farmlands,” he opined.

He said the President decided to fight the illegal mining operations by regularizing the operations of small scale mining in order to stop those few operators who are enriching themselves at the expense of the majority Ghanaians.

“Akufo-Addo’s politics is about the future of Ghanaians and not do something which will entice Ghanaians to vote for him in the next election and so he does things only in the interest of Ghanaians whether it will favour him or not,” he indicated.