The paramount chief of Dormaa Traditional Area, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Basic II has been spoken against the activities of illegal small -scale miners, known as galamsey,calling for a united front to tackle the menace.
Speaking at a durbar in Dormaa Ahenkro at Abrampadease palace to interact with his sub-chiefs,and other opinion leaders, public officials,security men, to work together with a unified front to end the drastic damage and destruction of farmlands and the lives of people.
“It is the responsibility of the paramount chief to protect our people,our land and our resources but the chief cannot do it alone”,he stated.
“All of us must be seriously involved so we can win this fight against galamsey.
Osagyefo Agyemang Badu II took this decision after some of his sub Chiefs alert him about these galamsey operators and toured those lands that have been badly damaged and destroyed by illegal, uncontrolled and unregulated mining activities with his people.
He observed how some of the rivers that used to look clean and clear and provided life to communities along its banks have now become coloured and poisoned as a result of widespread pollution caused by galamsay.
He also noted that, galamsey and the use of toxic chemicals could been leading to a poisoning of the lands and water bodies and water tables, even with boreholes getting infected by toxic materials in the areas concerned.
Osagyefo cited how the rich lands and resources that God blessed Ghana with, had been handed down through the ages from our forefathers and fore mothers to our generation.
“Children and Children’s children”, he said.
We must leave behind a land as rich, as fertile and as endowed as our fore bears left us”.
He therefore warned all the sub-chiefs including himself that, any chief who will be selling any land for galamsey will be find and also disstooled from his seat.
Osagyefo finally urged the chiefs, all people of Dormaa, opinion leaders, public officials and security men to work together to fight the drastic damage and distraction of farmlands and the lives of people.
