Gov’t must involve Nananom in the galamsey fight -Dunkwahene

Okofrobour Obeng Nuakoh III, Dunkwahene has advised the government to dialogue with Nananom to devise a way to curb the galamsey menace completely.

According to him, even though Nananom are custodians of stool lands in trust of the people, traditional leaders have no “legal authority” to fight illegal mining.

Dunkwahene made the call in an interview with Kumasi-based radio station FOX FM.

Okoforubour Nuakoh indicated that individuals come with letters (permits) from the Minerals Commission authorising them to mine their jurisdictions without their approval or consent.

He said as a Chief, he cannot hinder these individuals from going about their activities (mining), which have been permitted by a statutory government agency.

He referred to an instance in which he took legal action against one such individual over a mining activity in his area, but the court shot down his claim that whatever mineral underneath the earth in commercial quantity belonged to the state and could not claim it.

The Dunkwahene stressed that there is a “thin line” between Small Scale Mining and Galamsey, making the fight against the menace “very difficult”, noting that the onus lies on the government to fight against the menace effectively.

It is in this light that Nana Obeng Nuakoh is calling on the government to partner with Nananom to meaningfully fight against the canker.

From Oswald Pius Freiku, Kumasi

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