Galamsey has gone down after intensive government fight — Dormaahene

The Paramount Chief of Dormaa, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, has said the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, has made significant progress under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.

He noted that while the menace has not been completely eradicated, government interventions, including the deployment of the Blue Water Guard, have reduced its impact in recent times.

Speaking after being sworn in as a Justice of the Court of Appeal at the Jubilee House on Thursday, October 2, His Lordship Daniel Mensah, as he is known in private life, commended the reclamation of about nine forest reserves previously taken over by illegal miners.

“Illegal mining did not start yesterday. It has been with us for about 26 years. If you ask me for my assessment, I will say it is now going down. Before, we were not hearing about the Blue Water Guard and all that.

“Before this regime came, I know for a fact, because of the work I do, nine forest reserves had been taken over. Now that situation has been kept down. I wouldn’t say galamsey is gone, but I believe there has been progress,” he said.

The Dormaahene also rejected calls for the declaration of a state of emergency to combat the menace. Instead, he urged citizens and traditional authorities to support ongoing government efforts.

“It has not gotten to that [a state of emergency]. Let’s look at how much we garner from mining. Once you declare a state of emergency, the question is, who can do it? If we are not able to get those resources, there will be a gap,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama is expected to meet civil society organizations today, October 3, for a dialogue on effective ways to address the galamsey issue.