‘Minerals Commission is to blame for galamsey scourge’

The Benkumhene of the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area, Obrempong Sintim Poku III, says the Minerals Commission should eat humble pie and accept blame for contributing to the alarming rate of ‘galamsey’ with its attendant destruction of lands, river bodies and other property across the length and breadth of the country.

He noted that the commission granted mining permits to prospective miners without the consent and knowledge of traditional rulers who were the custodians of the lands in their traditional areas.

“In most cases, the chiefs see all categories of miners operating in their communities and when they challenge them, they just produce documents from the Minerals Commission permitting them to mine, so the chiefs could not differentiate between the genuine miners and galamsey operators in order to act,” he stressed.

Obrempong Poku, who is also the Chief of Akyem Manso, expressed the concern when he addressed a grand durbar to climax the annual Odwira festival at Manso.

Alternative livelihoods

“Although the traditional authority supports the effective measures to eradicate galamsey from the society, there is the need for the government to find alternative jobs for the youth engaged in the illegal mining so that they can make ends meet”,  he emphasised.

Obrempong Poku commended the President, Nana Akufo-Addo, and his government for the one district, one factory initiative, stressing that it would go a long way to reduce the unemployment challenge in the country.

He also lauded the media for playing a positive role in the eradication of illegal mining in the country.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Asene-Manso-Akroso, Mr George Aboagye, advised parents and teachers to control their female children and students to contain the rising spate of teenage pregnancy in the area.