I don’t care who will be affected – Otumfuo vows to deal with chiefs supporting galamsey

His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has chastised some of his chiefs for their inaction on illegal mining.
Speaking at the launch of the 2023 Green Ghana Day in Kumasi on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, he zoomed in on the Amansie area of the Ashanti Region where galamsey is endemic and signalled his determination to deal with any chief who allows illegal mining to fester in his area.

“My chiefs know that I have been speaking about this. I’m not happy with chiefs in the Amansie area where galamsey has taken over the land and I say to them if you sit there and you think that you don’t know what is happening, then you are not fit to be a chief over there.

“I don’t care who will be affected because we have to enforce it and I have to start with my chiefs first and the government will have to come in with the other ones. “We have to take matters seriously because I cannot accept that,” Otumfuo said.

Action year

Otumfuo has been at the forefront of the fight against illegal gold mining and has declared 2023 an action year as he moves on all fronts to protect lands and water bodies in his Kingdom from the activities of galamsey operators.

Drive through galamsey areas

The Asantehene disclosed that he will take a drive around the areas in Amansie affected by galamsey.
“ I have gotten reports about what is happening and all the chiefs in that area have to answer about what is happening in their area,” he said.

Protection of forests

Otumfuo was disturbed about the devastation of forest reserves resulting from galamsey activities.
“I was disturbed to hear from the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources during his press briefing few days ago that forest reserves in the Bekwai area are the most difficult reserves to control due to the activities of gun-wielding illegal miners and loggers.

“I have therefore charged the chiefs in these areas to work with the Forestry Commission to see how best they can tackle this problem.”

Chiefs benefit from galamsey

Otumfuo was forthright in stating that some of his chiefs are beneficiaries of galamsey.
“I know some of the chiefs have benefitted from illegal miners. It is a fact that we have to accept and appreciate.
“We cannot hide under anything by saying that we don’t know what is happening. ”

Arrests

The Asantehene was unhappy about the arrest of young people working on illegal mining sites while the financiers of the activities were left off the hook.

“When I receive pictures of galamsey people who are arrested, I say these are young people who cannot buy excavators.

“The people who buy the excavators are the ones who should be arrested. Those young ones are just looking for jobs to do and so they cannot be arrested while the financiers walk free.”

Commitment

Otumfuo has never hidden his commitment to greening the country. He said even before the launch of Green Ghana by President Akufo-Addo, he (Otumfuo) made a commitment in 2019 to plant some 2.5 million trees over 4,000 hectares of land for the protection of Lake Bosomtwe.

“I made this declaration because I know the importance of trees to our lives and the protection of our waterbodies such as the lake.

“I have a plantation at Kumawu where I’ve done teak plantation on over 640 acres,” he said to applause from the gathering.