Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, has disclosed that only two percent of cocoa farms are affected by illegal mining which is popularly known as ‘galamsey’.
Notwithstanding the difficulties encountered by the government in the fight against the galamsey, Dr. Akoto thinks that as a government, “we are going to win at the end of the day because there is a lot of goodwill among stakeholders, traditional authorities, and other stakeholders citizens in this country.”
“Galamsey is enabling at the edges. COCOBOD has done a survey which shows that 2 percent of the areas under cocoa production has been affected by galamsey, and 98 percent is left. Yes, you will say we have failed in galamsey fight, but it is an ongoing battle and we think as a government, we will win.”
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto
Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has told the National House of Chiefs that the task to protect the lands and the environment from the effect of galamsey is a joint responsibility between the government and the traditional authorities. The President explained noting that the majority of the lands in Ghana are in the custody of the chiefs. “This means that they have a role to play in protecting the resource,” he said.
“80 percent 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 remainder of 20 percent which I hold in the trust of the people of Ghana, is 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.”
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
Chiefs Behind the President in the Fight Against Galamsey
The chiefs on their part assured Mr. Akufo-Addo that they are solidly behind his administration to apply appropriate measures against all persons involved in Galamsey in the country.
President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyebi, indicated that galamsey is having a negative effect on the environment and also threatens revenue mobilsation in the country hence, their resolve to support the President and government in fighting it.
“Your relentless war against forest degradation and illegal mining in Ghana is of great importance to Ghanaians, especially we the chiefs. The effects of illegal mining on the environment threaten the survival of water bodies, farmlands, cocoa industry and even encouraging school dropouts; this undermines 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.”
Ogyeahohoo Yaw Gyeb
Ghana’s quest to increase its cocoa production level is being affected by illegal mining activities in cocoa-growing areas across the country, despite the government’s effort to stop galamsey activities.
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