Arrest galamsey operators – Okyenhene

Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the Okyenhene, has called on the security agencies to arrest and prosecute any chief or individuals found culpable of masterminding any illegal mining activity in the country.

“Any chief who is aware that it is illegal to do galamsey, and still gives out land for such purpose, must be arrested,” Okyenhene charged, in view of the damning consequences of illegal mining on the environment.

The charge was made when he was addressing the 15th Annual Public Lecture organized by the Ghana Medical Association [GMA] in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, on Wednesday.

It was themed, ‘Galamsey In Ghana and its Health Implications.’

Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin’s reaction followed allegations that some chiefs were selling out parcels of land to illegal miners to mine on.

“Any persons or parties – be they chiefs, citizens of the land or migrants from abroad – found to be involved in illegal mining or any other environmentally degrading activities in Akyem Abuakwa, will be made to face the full rigors of the law,” he warned.

According to the Okyenhene, who doubles as President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, traditional rulers are not behind illegal mining in the Akyem Abuakwa area, but rather some landlords and cocoa farmers lease out their parcels of land to the illegal miners, adding that he had set out on several occasions to stop galamsey operators by himself but the miners threw stones at his car.

The Okyenhene said political will was needed to end the canker in the area, “A persistent enforcement of the law and the persistent deployment of security personnel on a daily basis to the galamsey sites is the only remedy,” he proposed.

The Okyenhene insisted, “We should own our country. We should own our mines. We should own our gold. We should own our oil and not allow foreigners to take over our properties.”

The Okyenhene cautioned chiefs not to allocate land to potential miners since the Minerals Commission is the only institution mandated to issue mining concessions or licence.

The forum was attended by officials of the Ghana Medical Association; the Eastern Regional Director of Health Service; Dr Charity Sarpong, the Regional Police Commander and officials from the Environmental Protection Agency and Minerals Commission.