The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, has urged the government to collaborate with traditional authorities in combating illegal mining, known as galamsey.
The traditional leader emphasized that the galamsey menace has escalated into a national security threat that requires immediate attention.
He drew examples from neighboring countries and parts of South America to illustrate the potential for illegal miners to evolve into organized armed groups.
Expressing concern, he noted that some galamsey operators are already resisting law enforcement, underscoring the critical role of chiefs as custodians of the land in safeguarding water bodies, public health, and the environment.
While addressing the general meeting of the House in Kumasi, he proposed that the government review the royalties paid to traditional authorities for mining and timber.
He advocated for retaining one percent of the gross revenue of mining companies operating within traditional areas to support local development.
He spoke about the deplorable state of infrastructure in many mining communities, which he deemed unbefitting for a country rich in resources.
He stressed that witnessing such conditions despite generating substantial revenues from these lands is unacceptable and urged the government to address the inadequacy in royalty allocation as a matter of urgency.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
