Chiefs, traditional leaders must lead galamsey fight – Armah-Kofi Buah

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has urged chiefs and traditional leaders to lead the fight against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

He emphasized that his strategy is not about replacing small-scale mining operators affiliated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) with those from the National Democratic Congress (NDC), but rather a firm commitment to eradicating the galamsey menace.

Speaking during his first meeting with the Western Regional House of Chiefs in Sekondi, Armah-Kofi Buah revealed that the government plans to involve chiefs in the mining licensing process.

However, he appealed to the chiefs for their support in the fight against galamsey to ensure its success.

“As a son of the soil, I have come here to seek your blessings in navigating the ministry and to ask for your utmost support to help us reset this nation for good and for generations yet unborn,” said Armah-Kofi Buah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ellembele.

The Minister further noted, “If we’re to succeed in our fight against illegal mining and against the degradation of our forests and our water bodies, it must be supported and led by the chiefs and traditional authorities.”

The chiefs, in turn, commended Armah-Kofi Buah for his respectful approach and leadership, and called for a review of the Community Mines concept. They urged that it be transformed into a true community-owned mining model, allowing local communities to take responsibility for preventing the devastation caused by illegal mining.