Galamseyers will soon take over Okyehene’s palace to mine gold – Minister

The Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Eric Kwakye Darfour has insinuated that the Palace of the Overlord of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional area may be invaded by illegal miners with excavators to prospect for gold should the menace continue unabated.

According to the Regional Minister, the rate at which illegal Miners have degraded lands and polluted River Birim in Kibi leading to complete shut down of the Kibi Water treatment plant for about a month and half now, is very troubling.

Hon. Eric Kwakye Darfuor extremely worried by the situation told a gathering at the official opening of Highways shell fuel filling station in Koforidua-Abrewankwanta in the Eastern region Friday that, he once told Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin that, if care is not taken his palace will be invaded by illegal miners hence the need for all Chiefs and Ghanaians to support the fight against the menace by the government.

The Minister said despite the environmental degradation by the illegal miners in Kibi, two chiefs in nearby communities, Apapam and Adadietem have been able to protect their lands from illegal mining which shows that, Chiefs who are the custodians of the land can help conserve the land.

He explained the fight against galamsey does not mean the government is against mining. He said government wants mining to be done in environmentally accepted processes.

The Chief of Aburi, Otobuor Gyan Kwasi who was Chairman of the program advised chiefs and politicians who are behind the galamsey activities to the extent of conniving with Chinese nationals to desist, in order to preserve and conserve the environment for the future generation.