Daasebre Dr. Asumadu Appiah, the Chief of Akyem Wenchi and Oseawuohene in the Eastern Region, has openly declared that despite efforts to stop the activity, young people in Wenchi and the surrounding areas are unlikely to stop indulging in unlawful mining, or “galamsey.”
Since galamsey is the only source of employment in the Wenchi area, Daasebre Asumadu Appiah claims that it is challenging to outlaw the practice.
He said it would be pointless to discontinue it without offering substitute means of subsistence.
Rather, he suggested that the government implement a more tightly controlled community mining program.
He thinks that by using this method, the state would be able to profit financially from the activity while protecting the environment.
The significance of including traditional leaders, or Nananom, in the management of natural resources was also emphasized by Daasebre Asumadu Appiah. They ought to play a big part in supervising mining operations as the land’s guardians.
He denounced the existing system in which the Accra-based central government issues mining leases and permissions to businesses without first engaging the chiefs.
To make sure that traditional authorities are included in decisions impacting their territories, the chief advocated for a shift in this method.
During a courtesy call at his palace in Akyem Wenchi, Daasebre Asumadu Appiah made these statements in response to a visit from Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who was touring the Eastern Region for his campaign.
“We don’t have any job opportunities within our community; the only job here is galamsey. As for the galamsey, it is not something we can stop if you tell us to stop. So all we asking is that you give us good policies and guidelines to do it. That is all we are asking from you that bring us those policies. You guys have said we should do community mining so for instance, I have sent an application to the district to do it.”
In addition to stressing the significance of environmental preservation, Dr. Bawumia announced that his administration would prioritize community mining initiatives, including the establishment of a more accommodating licensing procedure for such operations.
Additionally, the Vice President gave his word that traditional authority will actively participate in the administration and distribution of mining concessions.
“I think we haven’t gotten it right. For me, I think we should help small-scale mining and if we can do it well, galamsey will also do well. We need a licensing regime to make it easy so that people can acquire the license to work,” Dr Bawumia said.
