I’ll deal with “galamsey” menace – President Akufo-Addo

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has reiterated the commitment of his government to deal with illegal small scale mining, popularly known as “galamsey”. He stressed that government’s efforts in tackling the issue will be deliberate.

“We are all witnesses to what has become of our major water bodies such as Brim, Pra, Ankobra. All these strategic water bodies have been polluted as a result of galamsey,” Akufo-Addo said when he received the Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin and his delegation at the Jubilee House.

He added: “It is my considered opinion that we need a deliberate effort and plan to eliminate the galamsey menace in our country.” Akufo-Addo pointed out that during his first term, “some work was done even though not sufficient, to deal with the phenomenon”.

He therefore indicated that during his second term he is “committed to fighting it [galamsey] with a renewed energy in order for the people of Ghana to know that eliminating galamsey is a top priority”.

“We have to do everything possible to protect the water bodies and natural resources we inherited from our forebears so we can preserve them and bequeath them to the generations coming after us. If we do this deliberately, we stand the risk of losing all these priceless natural resources,” Akufo-Addo added .

The Okyenhene
The Okyenhene congratulated Akufo-Addo for winning the 2020 presidential election decisively. He indicated that he supports fully all the efforts to arrest the galamsey phenomenon in Ghana.

He submitted to Akufo-Addo to give consideration to their request for lands in their traditional area that were taken over by the state to be returned, adding they would be used for farming activities and other developmental projects.

“For all the issues we brought before you today, what is of great importance to us is the galamsey menace. We do understand that it is a difficult issue but we plead with you just like it is said that a “revolution has never been kind to its own people”, please put your “feet on the ground” in order to eliminate galamsey from the nation completely to preserve our lands, natural resources and water bodies,” he said.

Source: Asaaseradio