President Akufo-Addo has called on Chiefs to support him protect Ghanaian lands against illegal small-scale mining (Galamsey) since the responsibility must be shared between traditional rulers and the Government.
President Akufo-Addo addressed the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional Capital on Wednesday, October 5, 2022 and said that that the lands in Ghana are vested in the Government and Chiefs, who hold it in trust for the people, so protecting it is key and must be a collective responsibility.
He explained that 80 percent of the lands in Ghana continue to be under the custody of traditional rulers, having been acquired through the blood and sacrifices of our ancestors. He added that the Presidency holds only 20 percent of the lands in trust for the people of Ghana, and even that are derived from state acquisition from the traditional rulers.
President Akufo Addo said that ultimately, the welfare of the lands is a joint responsibility, even though the laws have vested the minerals in the soil in the Presidency in trust for the people.
He therefore pleaded with the chiefs to support him in applying stringent measures to curb the Galamsey menace in the country.
The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi on his part decried the devastating effects of Galamsey on the environment and applauded the President’s relentless war against forest degradation and illegal mining in Ghana, saying it is of great importance to Ghanaians. He said that illegal mining threatens the survival of water bodies, farmlands, cocoa industry and education. He continued that the menace even undermines the revenue mobilization drive in the country.
Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi pledged the support of the House of Chiefs, saying they are solidly behind the Government to apply the appropriate sanctions against persons, who engage in the practice of illegal mining irrespective of their status.