Dormaahene Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II has noted that galamsey has declined in recent years but remains a serious concern that must be addressed with urgency.
Speaking to journalists in Accra on Thursday, October 2, after being sworn in alongside 20 others as a Justice of the Court of Appeal, the Dormaahene reflected on the state of the menace that has long threatened Ghana’s environment and communities.
“I have been on this stool for almost 26 and a half years. Galamsey, the illegal mining, did not start yesterday; it’s been with us for some time.
“If you ask me about my assessment I will say now it is going down,” he said.
He cautioned, however, that the fight is far from over.
“I wouldn’t stand here and say galamsey is gone; it is still with us but I believe that if you look at the seriousness… we should ensure that we nip this situation in the bud,” he added.
The Dormaahene stressed the importance of preserving natural resources for future generations.
“This is the only thing our ancestors left for us so we don’t have to destroy our water bodies, cocoa farms and ensure that we do farming in the right way so we can all be happy,” he urged.
According to him, while galamsey did not begin under the current administration, interventions over the years, particularly from President John Dramani Mahama’s era, have helped reduce its prevalence.
Still, he maintained that consistent vigilance and stricter enforcement are required to finally rid the nation of the practice.
