Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, has threatened to have three chiefs arrested for their involvement in illicit mining in the Ashanti Region.

The King issued this statement shortly after the Gyaasehene, Akyeamehene, and Baamuhene of Sabronum in the Ahafo Ano South District of the Ashanti Region were stripped of their tools.

The chiefs were summoned before the Asantehene following an investigation into their actions, prompted by a publication in The Chronicle newspaper.

Otumfuo, delivering his verdict on the chiefs at the Manhyia Palace, revealed that he had learned that the Sabronum traditional leaders were engaged in illicit mining. He said he then informed officials from the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) to investigate the chief.

Otumfuo stated that the Gyaasehene and Akyeamehene were in fact involved in the illicit mining industry in the area, according to the NIB report he received about three months ago.

"I now possess the investigative report, which I was given about 3/4 months ago. In it, the names of the Gyaasehene and the Akyeamehene are mentioned,

"If I leave the town under your care, you people cannot be a good caretakers, so you'll be destooled even before a new chief is installed at Sabronum," Otumfuo remarked in his judgemtent.

"Don't return to the community and misbehave because if the DCE couldn't arrest you, I [Otumfuo] will do so," the Asantehene warned.

Large tracts of land in the Ashanti Regions have been destroyed by galamsey operators, but the Asantehene has vowed to crack down on the individuals and chiefs responsible for the threat because he is devoted to protecting our lands and waterbodies.

Source: Eric Nana Prekoh / Ghanaguardian.com