Count On Us In The Fight Against ‘Galamsey’ – Nat’l House Of Chiefs Assures Akufo-Addo

The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi, has said that the National House of Chiefs will provide every necessary support to the government in the fight against galamsey.

“…..[the Chiefs] are solidly behind your administration to apply the appropriate sanctions against persons who are engaged in the practice of illegal mining irrespective of their status,” he stated.

Speaking at a meeting with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, chiefs and Municipal and Metropolitan and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in Kumasi on Wednesday, October 5, 2022, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi, stressed the negative impact of illegal mining on the environment.

He also stated that the National House of Chiefs supports all efforts by the Akufo-Addo-led government to sanction appropriately persons engaged in illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) in the country.

Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi further emphasised the threats galamsey poses to revenue mobilisation in the country and the importance of the government’s role in the fight against this canker.

“Your relentless war against forest degradation and illegal mining in Ghana is of great importance to Ghanaians, especially we, the chiefs,” he observed.

He further explained that the effects of illegal mining on the environment are grievous and have threatened the survival of water bodies and most grievously increased the rate at which students drop out of school to pursue the deadly venture.

“The effects of illegal mining on the environment threaten the survival of water bodies, farmlands, cocoa industry and even encouraging school dropouts [and] this undermines the revenue mobilisation drive in the country.”

He added: “In view of this development, [the Chiefs] are solidly behind your administration to apply the appropriate sanctions against persons who are engaged in the practice of illegal mining irrespective of their status.”