Stay Away From Galamsey Activities Or Lose Your Stool - Omanhene Nana Osei Warns Local Chiefs

Kenyasi number one Omanhene in the Ahafo region, Nana Osei Kofi Abiri, has warned that any chief in his jurisdiction suspected of being involved in illegal mining, also known as galamsey, would be ousted.

According to him, the chief would also lose his stool, as warned by the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu, if he is found to be engaging in any form of illegal mining that has the potential to destroy water bodies and farmland.

Nana Osei Kofi issued the warning at the inauguration of the Kenyasi Community Mining Scheme in the northern district of Asutifi in the Ahafo region.

GBC's Thomas Nsowah-Adjei reports that in addition to keeping the youth busy, the program would also help protect the bodies of rivers that serve as sources of drinking water.

The implementation of Community Mining Schemes in the gold mining districts of Ghana is a government-initiated strategy to counter the threat of illegal mining in Ghana, which is a major cause of river body destruction and land degradation for commercial and subsistence farming.

The young people, who are mostly involved in illegal mining activities, also die during their operations.

The chemicals used are also harmful to the environment. The involvement of chiefs in illegal mining has recently been in the media because the lands where such activities take place are always under the jurisdiction of a chief.

Department of Land and Natural Resources officials met with Nananom, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives in select mining districts in Ashanti to discuss how best to address the threat given the intensity of the problem.

Deputy Land and Natural Resources Minister George Mireku Duker, who inaugurated the scheme, said the government will continue to ensure that those arrested for illegal mining are prosecuted to discourage people from getting involved.

He said the government had bought boats to patrol the major rivers that pose a threat to survival and promised more mining programs would be inaugurated to employ unemployed youth.

Ahafo Regional Minister George Boakye appealed to the management of the mining project to strictly comply with regulations to protect the environment.

The Omanhene of Kenyasi number one, Nana Osei Kofi Abiri, warned chiefs under his jurisdiction not to engage in illegal mining or risk being dishonoured.