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30.11.2011 General News

Legalize Galamsey. Okyeman Youth Tell Gov’t

By Daily Guide
Daniel Marfo Ofori-AttaDaniel Marfo Ofori-Atta
30.11.2011 LISTEN

The leadership of the Okyeman Youth Association (OYA) has called on government to legalize galamsey operations in the country.

According to the group, when 'galamseying' was legalized, it would bring more revenue to the government as operators could be taxed, and also create more job opportunities for the people in mining areas.

In an interview with DAILY GUIDE , Daniel Marfo Ofori-Atta, General Secretary of OYA, said the destructive effects of land scale mining on the environment were more dangerous than that of galamsey operations.

He therefore urged government to revise its mining laws. 'The law that says that the white man has the right to bring his machines to mine for our gold and destroy our environment for our local and indigenous people to suffer should be regulated,' he said.

He alleged that people in Adansi in the Ashanti Region could not engage in any productive farming due to massive land scale mining, and not the activities of galamsey operators.

At a press conference in Accra, the General Secretary of the Okyeman Youth Association (OYA) condemned the utterances of Odehye Kwame Agyei Boateng and his colleagues, and said there was no evidence linking the Okyenhene to the galamsey business.

It was reported that some members of the Royal Asona family of Kyebi, led by a certain Odehye Nana Kwame Adjei Boateng, had accused the Okyehene of supporting galamsey operations.

Mr. Ofori-Atta questioned, 'Why would a selfless leader like Okyehene be interested in the petty crumbs from galamsey operations when he has stood against transitional mining corporations that have the force of patronage, resources and coercion greater than that of most African states.'

He said the galamsey issue was a national challenge borne out of many interrelated factors. Kyebi, he said, could not be an exception.

Mr. Ofori-Atta continued that galamsey operations was not a recent phenomenon, adding that over the past few years it had been fuelled by ever-rising gold prices due to the lack of global investor confidence in the US dollar and other western currencies.

He said the gold price surge, aided by other factors such as mass poverty, destitution, unemployment and absence of meaningful livelihood, was the basis of the current galamsey menace.

He also noted that the retardation of the agriculture sector and the lack of incentives had worsened the situation and created a super-dependency on galamsey business.

Mr. Ofori Atta stated, 'The Okyenhene does not control the instrument of Ghanaian state power. He does not run the army or police. The environment can only be protected through advocacy and institution of practical measure that will alleviate the youth from poverty and mass destitution'.

He reiterated that naked force by the state authorities could not be the solution to put a stop to galamsey operations.

Mr. Ofori-Atta suggested a legal and policy regime that would recognize the right of the youth to small scale mining and institute effective regulatory measures. Such a regime, he said, would involve state agencies that would enforce environmental and health standards.

The Akyem Youth Association is a progressive network of public spirited youth leaders committed to the social, cultural, environmental and economic development of the towns and villages of Okyeman through advocacy and community organization.

By Cephas Larbi
 
 
 

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