Fight against galamsey can be won if all chiefs act like Asantehene – CHRAJ

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has admonished traditional leaders in Ghana to learn from the good works of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in the fight against illegal mining popularly known as galamsey.

According to CHRAJ, the Asantehene’s decision to destool chiefs involved in galamsey was commendable and worthy of emulation.

Speaking at a forum in Kumasi, Deputy Commissioner of CHARJ, Mercy Larbi said Otumfuo has been a pace setter in the battle against galamsey, and there is no doubt that the fight against galamsey can be won if all chiefs act like him. “CHRAJ wishes to encourage other traditional authorities or leaders in the country to learn from Otumfuo’s example of using his traditional authority to hold chiefs answerable to him accountable for the violation of their responsibilities and environmental laws,” she added.

Otumfuo’s efforts
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has been in the forefront in the fight against galamsey in the Ashanti Region. He has declared 2023 at the year of action in his quest to clamp down on galamsey activities in his domain .

At the launch of the 2023 Green Ghana Day in Kumasi on Wednesday, May 17, 2023, Otumfuo expressed grave concern about the rate at which galamsey is causing havoc in the Amansie enclave and indicated that chiefs within such communities would have questions to answer. “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 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 and added that he will take a drive around the areas affected by galamsey.

Destoolment
In August, this year, the King put his words into action when he destooled the Bekwai-Abodomhene Nana Saforo Koto was for acts he committed including sale of lands to illegal miners