Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III
The Eastern Nzema Traditional Council in the Western Region has pledged its unflinching support to the government in its efforts to stop illegal gold mining also called ‘galamsey’ in some parts of the country.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, has given a three-week ultimatum to all illegal miners to stop their activities or be prepared to face the full rigours of the law.
The government is coming up with a well-rehearsed strategy to implement drastic punitive measures to ensure that all people who connived to fund the activities of the illegal miners were dealt with.
Addressing members of the Traditional Council at a meeting at Atuabo, in the Ellembelle District of the region on Friday, the President of the Council, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III remarked “we fully support the move by government to halt galamsey activities nationwide”.
According to the chief, the activities of illegal miners were destroying the environment, posed economic and health hazards and had serious implications for the mining communities and their environs.
He said the situation was becoming alarming to the extent that if care was not taken the consequences would sooner than later become unbearable.
He noted that it was unfortunate that some chiefs and traditional rulers have been accused of alleged involvement in galamsey activities despite the level of destruction it caused to land and water bodies.
“Most people blame chiefs for being behind galamsey activities. It is not a good thing for us (chiefs) to be labeled as galamseyers. With all humility, I beg all chiefs who are doing this illegal mining to stop”, he added.
He continued “there is nothing wrong with mining. But we should not accept the type of mining that will bring devastations and make life difficult for the people”.
He pleaded with the government not to destroy the various excavators used by the illegal miners in their operations since the machines could be used to reclaim the degraded sites.
Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli who is also the Omanhene of Atuabo appealed to his people to make conscious efforts to promote peace and tranquility in the town adding “Wherever there is peace, there is stability and development”.
He appealed to the youth to take their education, vocations and trades very seriously and do away with indiscipline, lawlessness and unnecessary idling.
The Omanhene tasked parents to show commitment and dedication to the upbringing of their children and to do everything within their power to educate them.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Atuabo
