Okyenhene Suggests One Year Ban on All Minings, for New Reforms

The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin has suggested to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resource to place a one year ban on all minings in the sector, to enable reforms into regulations and issuance of licenses.

The Akyem Abuakwa overlord, narrated, that the fight against illegal mining should be holistic, to involve a review of license, regulates, and be supervised for a period.

“Let’s stop issuance of the license and Shut it down for proper investigations and proper supervision to resource the regulatory agency so that we do it and do it well, he emphasized".

According to Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, the ban on both small and large scale mining will also help the regulatory authorities to inspect and review all licenses issued to both small and large scale mining companies, which he believed could enhance sanity and vigilance for proper monitoring after the ban.

“He stressed that for now, we don’t know who has small scale mining, nor who has large scale mining. Adding that the Public needs to know so that it will be cleared and publish the names as well as the companies who have been licensed properly.

Lamenting on the matter, he revealed that in the middle of a war, "we cannot find these things when we are fighting it, so all minings should be shut down, then we begin to find out who has been properly licensed, and who has a prospecting license, or has a recognizance license, before we can restart," Okyenhene fumed.

Osagyefo was addressing an entourage in his palace yesterday, Thursday, May 27, 2021, when the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor paid a courtesy call on him at the Ofori Panin Fie in Kyebi as part of his tour in the region.

He seconded the motion moved by Otumfour Osei Tutu II, for the inclusion of chiefs in the processes of licensing before issuance of the license.

The Overlord of Akyem Abuakwa Traditional area said for the fight against illegal mining to be successful, there is the need for a permanent military base in all mining districts to sustain the clamping down of recalcitrant who sneak to work at night.

“If you don’t have permanent occupancy of the Soldiers by the time you go to the exercise they would go back. They are so notorious and hard to hear that they will go back. So we need permanent occupancy of military men, adding that until then, the water that we drink, the food that we eat, the air that breathes are all being affected “.

The Minister on his part thanked, Nananom for the opportunity offered him to seek their support and he is willing to accept all sorts of advice "to end this canker which is destroying our lands and water bodies."

Mr Samuel Jinapor said, it is the best decision for him to visit chiefs, since they are the rightful custodians of all lands and the natural resources, adding that the custodians have been able to take good care of the lands and their support to the ministry will make the work a bit easier.

Mr Jinapor applauded the chiefs for their unflinching support in the fight against galamsey, "and this, he believes will help boost the ministry to end illegal mining in the country in its stipulated time."

The land and natural resource minister opined, that the task of ending illegal mining in the country is a huge obligation, and it needs collective efforts to fight galamsey, since its one of the source of employment for the people, indicated that many people are involved, including politicians, chiefs and foreigners, he maintained

William Ofori Akwaboa, Eastern Regional Correspondent