Chief of Biemso in the Ahafo Ano South of the Ashanti Region, Nana Bediako Ababio II is urging President Akufo-Addo to add him to the government’s anti-galamsey taskforce.
According to the chief, he is ready to lead the crusade to fight against traditional rulers who are engaging in illegal mining activities in the country.
“I want the president to invite me on board to lead the special anti-galamsey taskforce” Nana Bediako Ababio stressed.
“I’m ready to lead a crusade against chiefs and people engaging in illegal mining activities destroying water bodies” the chief said on Adom FM’s BURNING ISSUES programme hosted by Listowell Kwadwo Fordjour Wednesday as part of this year’s World Water Day celebration to create awareness about the need for people to protect water bodies.
According to Nana Bediako Ababio II, the wide destruction of water bodies, lands and forestry is alarming which laws protecting our lands and natural resources must be enforced in the interest of citizenry.
It will be recalled in 2013 that former President John Dramani Mahama inaugurated a five-member inter-ministerial taskforce to fight against illegal small scale mining (galamsey) throughout the mining areas of the country but the taskforce failed the nation in the fight against “galamseyer”.
The members were made up of: Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, former Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Chairman; Mr Mark Woyongo, former Minister for Defence, member; Mr. Kwesi Ahwoi, former Minister for Interior, member; Dr Joe Oteng Adjei, member and Ms. Hannah Tetteh, member.
The taskforce was among other responsibilities seize all the equipment the illegal miners use, arrest and prosecute both Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians engaged in small-scale illegal mining, deport all non-Ghanaians engaged in the practice and revoke licenses of Ghanaians who have sub-leased their concessions to non-Ghanaians.
But Nana Bediako Ababio maintained that, the only way to protect our water bodies to is to flush out the galamsey operators from mining sites.
Source: Ghana/Adom News/ Abednego Asante Asiedu