The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw, has opposed calls by Organised Labour and Civil Society Groups for President Akuffo Addo to declare a state of emergency in mining areas and ban small-scale mining operations in the country.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II said Ghana cannot allow the mineral resources to remain unearthed, and urged the government to devise the best strategies with key stakeholders including traditional authorities to ensure environmentally responsible mining.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, also the paramount Chief of Sefwi Bekwai, said this at Bibiani, at the Sefwi Bekwai Anhwiaso Municipality of the Western North Region, during the inauguration of an office building for the Minerals Commission." The gold is ours but we have appropriate ways of mining that's why the Minerals Commission have come to set up their offices here, they will guide you on responsible mining based on your application, so we plead on all are calling on the President to declare a state of emergency on all forms of mining to know that we stand to lose a lot as a nation, You all know I am against galamsey, and I will continue to fight it,"
This may result in people losing their jobs, we should consider ways of regulating their activities,"
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor said, the ad hoc ministerial committee set up by the President to deal with the menace of galamsey has begun its work by engaging interest groups including organised Labour and National House of Chiefs to find a lasting solution to illegal mining.
The Board Chairperson of the Minerals Commission, Mrs. Barbara Obeng Gatsi said, the Commission is working with key interest groups to check methods used in illegal mining operations across all mining areas in the country.
She explained that the new office is in line with efforts by the Commission to decentralize part of its operations.
" The Western North Regional Security Council have formed a special task force to combat illegal mining in the region and reduce it to its barest minimum. This office is one of many that the commission is constructing across the country as part of its decentralisation drive will ensure that our stakeholders benefit from our statutory mandate without the inconvenience of undertaking long trips to Accra to access our services,"
