The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has called on traditional leaders to take a leading role in the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Speaking at his first meeting with the Western Regional House of Chiefs in Sekondi, Armah-Kofi Buah stressed that the government’s strategy is not about replacing small-scale mining operators affiliated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) with those from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) but rather ensuring a firm commitment to eradicating galamsey.
“If we’re to succeed in our fight against illegal mining and against the degradation of our forests and our water bodies, it must be supported and led by the chiefs and traditional authorities,” he stated.
Chiefs in Mining Licensing
As part of efforts to regulate the sector, the Minister announced that the government plans to involve chiefs in the mining licensing process. He appealed for their full cooperation to ensure the success of the fight against galamsey.
“As a son of the soil, I have come here to seek your blessings in navigating the ministry and to ask for your utmost support to help us reset this nation for good and for generations yet unborn,” Armah-Kofi Buah added.
Community-Owned Mines
In response, the chiefs commended the Minister for his respectful engagement and urged a review of the Community Mines concept. They proposed transforming it into a fully community-owned model, allowing local communities to take charge of preventing the destruction caused by illegal mining.
The meeting underscored the crucial role of traditional leaders in safeguarding Ghana’s natural resources and tackling illegal mining.
