Okyenhene vows to clamp down on illegal miners

The King of the Abuakwa State, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has vented his spleen on illegal miners, popularly known in Ghana as “galamseyers,” following speculations in the traditional area that he supports their destructive activities.

According to the Okyenhene, who is also an environmentalist, it beats his imagination that the people are trying to associate him with the activities of illegal miners.

“I cannot be an advocate for environmental issues, and at the same time, allow these unscrupulous activities to be perpetuated right in my backyard,” he said, and announced an immediate ban on all galamsey activities in his traditional area.

Speaking at a news conference at Abuakwa on Monday, the Okyehene said, “I don't care if the person involved is my son or chief, he must be arrested and prosecuted, since galamsey is equally as criminal as somebody dealing in cocaine.”

According to him, no amount of money accruing from the activities of these illegal operations could coerce him to change his stance.

The Tamfoehene of Asaman, Barima Kwame Koh II, on his part, reiterated that the press conference had become necessary, due to the pollution of the Birim River and other water bodies, amidst destruction of its ecology by illegal miners.

He called on the security agencies to assist the traditional council to fight the menace, and also suggested that excavators confiscated should not be released to their owners, until they had sought clearance from the traditional authorities.

Some of the illegal miners, led by one Kwame Aseidu, attacked reporters, who were being conveyed to the site of their operations to take shots.

In a related development, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa South Constituency, Samuel Atta Akyea, has passionately appealed to President John Evans Atta Mills to use his offices to bring sanity to the Abuakwa State, since the residents are dying.

His appeal stemmed from the tragedy that hit the area, when two children were drowned in a pit dug for illegal mining.

The incident, which occurred on Sunday February 28, this year, between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m., sent shivers down the spines of residents, amidst many answerable questions, like what the state was doing to make the area safe.

Speaking at a press conference, after he and some constituency executives visited the site and family of the deceased children to interact and express his condolences, he explained that it was worrisome that the government had not shown commitment to stopping galamsey activities in the area.

According to him, the untimely deaths of the two pupils of the Kibi Methodist Primary School, was not the first time something of that sort had occurred in the area.