Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has called on chiefs and traditional leaders to take an active role in addressing the country’s growing illegal mining problem, known as galamsey.

Speaking at his first meeting with the Western Regional House of Chiefs in Sekondi, Armah-Kofi Buah emphasized that his approach is not about replacing small-scale miners affiliated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) with those from the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Rather, he stressed a focused commitment to eliminating the negative impact of galamsey.

The Minister revealed that the government plans to involve traditional leaders in the mining licensing process, ensuring they play a key role in overseeing the industry. “If we are to succeed in our fight against illegal mining and the degradation of our forests and water bodies, it must be supported and led by the chiefs and traditional authorities,” he said.

Armah-Kofi Buah, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Ellembele, urged the chiefs for their backing, emphasizing that their involvement would be vital to the success of the national efforts. “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,” he added.

The chiefs, in turn, acknowledged the Minister’s respectful leadership and expressed their support. They also called for a reevaluation of the Community Mines concept, suggesting that it should evolve into a truly community-owned mining model, enabling local communities to take more responsibility in mitigating the damage caused by illegal mining.

Source:TheDotNews