- Akyem Wenchi Chief skeptical about stopping galamsey.
- Galamsey is the only livelihood for many in the area.
- Chief requests policies and guidelines to regulate galamsey.
- Bawumia pledges to strengthen mining licensing regime.
Daasebre Dr. Asumadu Appiah, the Chief of Akyem Wenchi in the Eastern region, has expressed skepticism about the possibility of winning the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, in his jurisdiction.
He made these remarks during a visit by the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, highlighting the challenges in stopping the practice. The Chief explained that the lack of employment opportunities in the area makes it extremely difficult to weed out galamsey, which is destroying Ghana’s vegetation and water bodies.
He emphasized that galamsey is the only means of livelihood for many in the community, making it hard to stop without alternative job opportunities. Daasebre Dr. Asumadu Appiah stated, “As for the galamsey, it is not something we can stop if you tell us to stop.”
The government has declared war on illegal mining activities with the introduction of Operation Halt and Operation Galamstop, but the practice persists across major mining areas. The Chief called for the prominent involvement of traditional leaders in the exploration of precious minerals in the country.
He also requested good policies and guidelines to regulate galamsey, saying, “All we are asking is that you give us good policies and guidelines to do it.” Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, the NPP’s flagbearer, pledged to strengthen the licensing regime if elected president to ensure sustainable mining.
Bawumia emphasized the need to support small-scale mining with a streamlined licensing regime, saying, “I think we haven’t gotten it right… We need a licensing regime to make it easy so that people can acquire the license to work.”
