Galamsey: Chiefs of Akyem Hemang give Police, Coordinating Council, Assembly 10-day ultimatum to end menace in their community
The Eastern Regional Coordinating Council, the Ghana Police Service, and the local assembly have been given a 10-day deadline by the chiefs and residents of Akyem Hemang, a farming community in the Fanteakwa South District of the Eastern Region, to either arrest or expel the illegal miners (galamsey) who are harming the area’s farmlands and waterways.
The people will take the law into their own hands to safeguard and maintain their water sources and farmlands, according to the Chiefs, if the agencies fail to stop the operations of the miners within 10 days.
Osabarima Mmirrikkissi Okasum Apori Atta, the chief of Akyem Hemang, stated to the media that he could no longer contain the anger of his people.
“We know you have done your best, but it is not good enough, if you can’t do it, give us about 10 policemen to accompany us. Who has authorized them to come and mine our water-bodies in the first place? We cannot build Ghana in this way…I cannot hold back the anger of my people again.
“Within 10 days, if we don’t hear anything we will apply officially, to follow due process to go on demonstration and we will need police guard to drive them away. If there are no laws in this land, let us know so we take the laws into our own hands.”
Some irate citizens blamed the government for the country’s failure to successfully combat illegal mining.
In the meantime, Ernest Ofosu, the District Chief Executive for Fanteakwa South and Chairman of the District Security Council (DISEC), has promised that an urgent DISEC meeting will be called to address the community’s worries.
