President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi has said his outfit are solidly behind President Akufo-Addo and his government in the fight against illegal mining popularly known as galamsey in the country.[ads2]
According to Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi, the negative effect of illegal mining on the environment is on the high despite measures by the government to curb it.
He believes the towering effect of illegal mining threatens the revenue mobilsation in the country hence their readiness to support the government in the fight against it.
“Your relentless war against forest degradation and illegal mining in Ghana is of great importance to Ghanaians especially we the chiefs.[ads3]
“The effects of illegal mining on the environment threaten the survival of water bodies , farmlands, cocoa industry and even encouraging school dropouts, this undermins the revenue mobilsation drive in the country.
“In view of this development [the Chiefs] are solidly behind your administration to apply the appropriate sanctions against persons who are engaged in the practice illegal mining irrespective of their status”, he said when President Akufo-Addo held a meeting with the Chiefs and the MMDCEs in Kumasi on Wednesday October 5.
On his part, President Akufo-Addo said “80 per cent of the lands in this country continue to be under your custody, much of it having been acquired through the blood and sacrifices of your ancestors. The reminder of 20 per cent which I hold in trust of the people of Ghana, derived from state acquisition from you. What this means is that ultimately, the welfare of the state of the lands is our joint responsibility, although by statute the minerals in the soil belong to the president in trust for the people.”[ads4]
