Asantehene the only prominent figure truly committed to ending illegal mining – ISODEC Analyst

Policy analyst and campaigns coordinator at the Integrated Social Development Centre (ISODEC), Dr. Steve Manteaw, has stated that Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II is the only prominent figure in Ghana who has demonstrated a genuine commitment to combating illegal mining (galamsey).

Otumfuo’s decisive actions
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Dr. Manteaw highlighted the Asantehene’s decisive actions, including the destoolment of chiefs involved in galamsey.

However, he lamented that these efforts have not been matched by state authorities, who have failed to investigate and prosecute the offenders. “Otumfuo is the only public figure who has had the courage and moral fortitude to confront galamsey head on. Unfortunately, our state prosecutorial authorities failed to investigate and prosecute these chiefs after they were distooled by the Asantehene. Not too late, if you ask me,” Dr. Manteaw wrote.

Pretence & racism
Dr. Manteaw identified vested interests as the biggest obstacle in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining.
He criticized the selective arrests of Chinese nationals while Ghanaian kingpins evade accountability.
“The Ghanaian kingpins who never get paraded along with their Chinese accomplices are the ones to tackle in dealing with vested interest. Let Hannah Bissiw tackle those, if she wants to fight the menace. Enough of the theatrics,” he asserted.