The Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Acheampong (left), in a conversation with the Okyenhene (right)
The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has expressed disapproval at government’s community mining programme.
According to the overlord of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, the initiative is a “disguised galamsey”, which has degraded lands and caused pollution to water bodies.
The Okyenhene said this on the 4th Akwasidae of the year on Sunday at the Ofori Panin Fie at Kyebi.
He said his Council will oppose the programme being instituted by the government in his area and other parts of the country. He stressed that he will personally lead a campaign against the programme since it has become worse than the illegal mining it was seeking to address.
“We are coming to rise up against that policy, and we will not agree to the community mining initiative because if the Birim becomes polluted, the blame is not brought to the doorstep of the MCE but the chiefs and the President.
“The process of acquiring legal documents to mine doesn’t involve any chief but rather the President and his appointees at the local level, but when the water bodies are destroyed the chiefs carry the blame,” he said.
Visitation
The Akwasidae was attended by the Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Acheampong, who used the occasion to pay a courtesy call on the Okyenhene.
Mr Acheampong’s visit was also to afford him the opportunity to introduce himself to the Okyenhene as the newly appointed Regional Minister. He assured the traditional authority that he would be available to serve them as and when the need arises.
He pleaded with the traditional authorities to continue to guide him in the discharge of his duties.
On the concerns raised, he assured the Okyenhene that they would be taken up and followed through to ensure that the issues raised are addressed.
