Dormaahene Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II has observed that illegal small-scale mining, widely known as galamsey, has seen a decline since the tenure of former President John Dramani Mahama. However, he cautioned that the menace still poses a serious threat and must be completely eliminated.
Speaking to journalists in Accra on Thursday, October 2, after being sworn in as a Justice of the Court of Appeal along with 20 others, the traditional leader emphasized that although galamsey predates the Mahama administration, recent efforts have significantly reduced its prevalence.
“I’ve been on this stool for almost 26 and a half years. Galamsey didn’t start today; it has been with us for a long time. But if I were to give my assessment, I would say the situation is improving — it’s going down,” he said.
The Dormaahene credited this progress to stronger enforcement measures and community-led initiatives. He noted that activities which previously flourished openly have now been curtailed.
“Do you know why I say this? Look at some of the steps taken — in the past, we didn’t hear about blue waterguards and such interventions. Before this administration, I know for a fact that nine forest reserves had been taken over by illegal miners. That situation has now been brought under control,” he explained.
Despite these gains, he warned against complacency, stressing that galamsey has not been completely eradicated and requires continued vigilance from the government, the Ministry of Lands, and the general public.
“I won’t stand here and claim galamsey is gone — it’s still around. But given the level of seriousness now, I believe we can work together to put an end to it,” he added.
In his own jurisdiction, the Dormaahene declared a zero-tolerance policy for illegal mining and vowed to take direct action against offenders.
“In Dormaa, if anyone engages in illegal mining, I will personally see to their arrest and hand them over to the police,” he warned.
He also urged citizens to play their part in protecting Ghana’s environment and natural heritage.
“This land and its resources are the only things our ancestors left us. We must not destroy our rivers, cocoa farms, and agricultural lands. Let’s farm responsibly and preserve our environment for future generations,” he appealed.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com/Nhyiraba Solomon Nartey
