Security officials who fail to act on galamsey should be removed - Afadjato South MP

The Member of Parliament for Afadjato South, Frank Afriyie, is calling for tougher accountability in the fight against illegal mining, insisting that security officials who fail to act should be removed from their posts.

Speaking on the issue, he questioned why police commanders and other security heads remain in charge of areas where galamsey activities continue openly, despite ongoing efforts to clamp down on the practice.

According to him, the continued presence of illegal mining in these communities raises serious concerns about the effectiveness, and in some cases, the accountability of those tasked with enforcing the law.

“You have no duty being a police commander if you cannot carry out this basic responsibility of checking those involved in galamsey,” he stated.

Afriyie stressed that enforcing the law is not optional but a core duty, and those who fail to do so should not remain in office.

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Beyond security agencies, he is also urging traditional authorities to take greater responsibilities in the fight.

He called on the National House of Chiefs to introduce clear performance measures for chiefs, holding them accountable for activities within their jurisdictions.

“We must appeal to the National House of Chiefs so that specific KPIs will be given to chiefs. Anything that goes on in your jurisdiction, you must be responsible for it,” he said.

He also praised Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for taking decisive action against chiefs linked to illegal mining, describing it as a step in the right direction.

He urged that similar actions be replicated across the country to strengthen the fight against galamsey.

His comments add to growing calls for stronger enforcement and shared responsibility as Ghana continues to grapple with the environmental and economic impacts of illegal mining.

NA/AE

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