The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Tarkwa is calling on chiefs and traditional leaders to use their cultural influence and authority to help stop illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
The appeal was made by the EPA’s Regional Director in Tarkwa, Derick Ashia Logo, who said illegal miners are becoming increasingly bold and difficult to control despite ongoing enforcement efforts.
Speaking in an interview, Mr. Logo explained that many illegal mining sites are now heavily protected, making it dangerous for government officials to carry out inspections and monitoring activities.
“We have come to realise that as we do our enforcement and monitoring, when we speak to these galamseyers, they are not prepared to stop what they are doing. They are so emboldened that they have ammunition on site, and if you’re not well prepared, you can lose your life,” he said.
He stressed that chiefs have an important role to play because they are custodians of the land and hold significant influence in their communities.
According to him, traditional leaders can use local customs, beliefs, and taboos to discourage people from engaging in illegal mining, especially in forests and around water bodies.
“We believe that the chiefs who are custodians of the lands in these communities have the power to invoke the spirits in water bodies and in the forests. They should call their people together and let them know that anybody who goes into the water body or forest to mine without the appropriate permit should die,” he said.
Mr. Logo believes that such traditional measures could help discourage illegal mining activities, which continue to pollute rivers, destroy forests, and damage the environment.
He also called on the government to provide financial support for community-led environmental protection initiatives, saying this would strengthen the efforts of traditional authorities.
In addition, he proposed tougher measures to hold chiefs accountable if they fail to protect natural resources within their communities.
“The government should come up with a policy. If you fail to protect the water bodies and forests and allow people to destroy them, you should be de-stooled. I believe no chief is prepared to be destooled, so they will have no reason but to help protect the water bodies and our forests,” he added.
The EPA says illegal mining remains one of the country’s biggest environmental challenges. The agency also noted that enforcement officers are increasingly facing resistance and security threats while carrying out operations against illegal miners.
