Dormaahene commends govt’s efforts against Galamsey, warns fight must continue

The Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, has acknowledged a decline in illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey, since the beginning of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.

However, he cautioned that the menace is far from eradicated.

Speaking to journalists after being sworn in as one of 21 new Justices of the Court of Appeal on Thursday, the traditional leader said galamsey has plagued the nation for decades, but recent government measures have curbed its spread.

“I have been on this stool for almost 26 and a half years. Galamsey 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 observed.

He credited the gains to stronger enforcement and community-based interventions, citing the introduction of “blue waterguards” and other initiatives. “Before this regime came, nine forest reserves had been taken over. Now that situation has been curbed,” he noted.

Despite these improvements, the Dormaahene stressed the need for sustained vigilance.
“I wouldn’t stand here and say galamsey is gone; it is still with us. We should ensure that we nip this situation in the bud,” he said.

He further vowed to enforce a zero-tolerance policy in Dormaa, pledging to personally apprehend offenders and hand them over to the police.

Osagyefo Agyeman Badu II urged Ghanaians to protect the country’s natural resources, particularly water bodies and cocoa farms.
“This is the only thing our ancestors left for us. We don’t have to destroy it. Let us do farming the right way so we can all be happy,” he appealed.