Asantehene worry over galamsey activities

The Asantehene , Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has expressed worry over the slow pace in combating illegal mining, popularly know as galamsey, in the country.

He has questioned why the security agencies had not been able to bring finality to the situation after several years of purported action.

According to him, traditional authorities could not be held liable for the illegal activity when they were not in charge of giving concession and issuing permits.

He explained that the licenses were issued without recourse to traditional authorities.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II stated this when the United State (US) Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E. Palmer, paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

Relevance of DISEC

The Asantehene questioned the relevance of District and Municipal Security Councils (DISECs) over their failure to fight the galamsey menace.

He wondered why for several years since the government launched the fight against illegal mining, with a team made up of both the military and police, little result had been achieved.

“At the district level, we have the political administration, District Chief Executive, and the Security Council. Are they all saying that they are unaware of the activities of these galamseyers? If they are unable to detect and stop the operation of these galamseyers then they are unworthy to be there, it is as simple as that,” Asantehene said.

“We should have brought finality to this issue by now. The President had even put his presidency on the line, and yet this is going on. To me, something is wrong somewhere,” he added.

Although he acknowledged the economic drivers for illegal mining operations, he said that should not supersede the environmental devastation.