Okyenhene insists his palace is not being dug for galamsey

The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin has dismissed claims that galamsey operators are digging under the palace at Kyebi in the Eastern region.

He further advised chiefs and politicians who are in the galamsey business to the extent of conniving with foreign nationals to desist from it to preserve the environment for future generation.

The Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin has been criticized for looking on as illegal miners destroy water bodies and lands in the Akyem Abuakwa state.

He has also been accused of engaging in galamsey and even allowing galamsay operators to mine beneath his palace.

Speaking in an exclusive interview on TV3, the Akyem Abuakwa overlord rubbished allegations that he condones galamsey and is involved in it.

“People are saying the palace is being dug, go round it and see. If I wanted to do mining, I will take my land, I don’t have to ask anybody, go to the minerals commission and secure proper license to do proper mining. Why would I turn around and steal my land to engage in such dirt?” he questioned.

To ascertain the veracity of the allegation, the news team took a walk around the palace. The east wing of the palace is a walk way and also shares a wall with other residents which makes it impossible for galamsey activities to be undertaken there without residents noticing.

The west wing is the side of the main street that leads to the Kyebi funeral grounds as well as the Ghana Water Company pump station. The southern wing of the palace which has the back gate is adjacent the Doctor J. B Danquah street.

Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin who was optimistic the recent fight against illegal mining known as galamsey will be successful, stressed the need to preserve the environment for future generation.

“Those who raise the question that what would they do when they don’t do galamsey, what were they doing before? We need to make sure that we can plant trees or something more profitable. Short gain profits are destroying the future of our country.”

Meanwhile, the three-week ultimatum by the lands minister ends on Wednesday April 19, and government says it would develop a framework to ensure that Ghanaians in small scale mining operate under regulation.