A former parliamentary aspirant for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Bekwai Constituency, Hon. Henry Opoku-Ware, has called for stricter measures and deeper collaboration among traditional leaders, security agencies, and local authorities to effectively tackle illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.
Speaking in an interview with Nana Owoahene Acheampong on Atinka TV’s Oman Mu Nsem political talk show, Hon. Opoku-Ware noted that the scale of illegal mining today surpasses that of previous years.
“The illegal activities are now more rampant than before,” he said. “Every land in Ghana has an owner — whether an individual or a family. Chiefs should be made to sign an agreement before any mining activity begins, and no operation should proceed without explicit government approval.”
He emphasized that the fight against galamsey must be free from political interference and should involve all key stakeholders, including chiefs, municipal assemblies, and security agencies.
“There’s no land where mining is taking place without the knowledge of the chief,” he added. “If the government truly wants to stop illegal mining, it must put in place a well-regulated system to control operations and ensure the country gains meaningful revenue.”
By Nana Owoahene Acheampong
