Illegal mining has reduced under Mahama, but still a threat- Dormaahene
The Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, has acknowledged a decline in illegal small-scale mining, popularly known as galamsey, since the start of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration. However, he warned that the activity still poses a serious threat and must be completely eradicated.
Speaking to journalists in Accra on Thursday, October 2, after being sworn in as a Justice of the Court of Appeal alongside 20 others, the traditional ruler said that although galamsey did not begin under the current government, recent interventions have significantly curbed its spread.
“I have been on this stool for almost 26 and a half years. Galamsey — the illegal mining — did not start yesterday; it’s been with us for some time. If you ask me about my assessment I will say now it is going down,” he said.
Osagyefo Agyeman Badu II credited stronger enforcement mechanisms and community-level initiatives for the progress made. He cited examples of previously unchecked activity now being addressed.
“You know why I am saying that? If you look at some of the steps that have been taken — before we were not hearing about the blue waterguards and all that…. Before this regime came I know for a fact because of the work that I do nine forest reserves had been taken over. Now that situation had been curbed,” he said.
Despite these gains, the Dormaahene urged the government, the Lands Ministry, and the general public not to become complacent.
“I wouldn’t stand here and say galamsey is gone; it is still with us but I believe that if you look at the seriousness… we should ensure that we nip this situation in the bud,” he said.
The Dormaahene issued a stern warning to would-be illegal miners in the Dormaa Traditional Area, declaring zero tolerance for galamsey and vowing to personally arrest offenders and hand them over to the police for prosecution.
He also called on Ghanaians to take collective responsibility in protecting the country’s natural resources, including water bodies, cocoa farms, and arable land.
“This is the only thing our ancestors left for us so we don’t have to destroy our water bodies, cocoa farms and ensure that we do farming in the right way so we can all be happy,” he said.
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