The Chief of Akyem Wenchi and Oseawuohene in the Eastern Region, Daasebre Dr Asumadu Appiah, has openly stated that the youth in Wenchi and its surrounding areas are unlikely to cease engaging in illegal mining, commonly known as “galamsey,” despite efforts to curb the activity.
According to Daasebre Asumadu Appiah, galamsey is the only source of employment in the Wenchi area, making it difficult to eradicate the practice.
He suggested that stopping it without providing alternative livelihoods would be futile.
Instead, he recommended that the government introduce a more regulated community mining scheme.
This approach, he believes, would allow the state to benefit financially from the activity while preserving the environment.
Daasebre Asumadu Appiah also stressed the importance of involving traditional leaders [Nananom] in managing natural resources. As the custodians of the land, they should have a significant role in overseeing mining activities.
He criticized the current practice where the central government, from its seat in Accra, grants mining leases and permits to companies without consulting the chiefs.
The chief called for a change in this approach to ensure that traditional authorities are involved in decisions affecting their lands.
Daasebre Asumadu Appiah made these remarks during a visit by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, who paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Akyem Wenchi as part of his campaign tour in the Eastern Region.
“We don’t have any job opportunities within our community; the only job here is galamsey. As for the galamsey, it is not something we can stop if you tell us to stop. So all we asking is that you give us good policies and guidelines to do it. That is all we are asking from you that bring us those policies. You guys have said we should do community mining so for instance, I have sent an application to the district to do it.”
Dr Bawumia emphasized the importance of protecting the environment and stated that his administration plans to focus on promoting community mining schemes, including the implementation of a more flexible licensing process for these activities.
The Vice President also assured that traditional authorities would play active roles in the management and allocation of mining concessions.
“I think we haven’t gotten it right. For me, I think we should help small-scale mining and if we can do it well, galamsey will also do well. We need a licensing regime to make it easy so that people can acquire the license to work,” Dr Bawumia said.
