The Chief of Akyem Wenchi and Oseawuohene in the Eastern Region, Daasebre Dr. Asumadu Appiah, has openly acknowledged that efforts to eliminate illegal mining (galamsey) in Wenchi and its surrounding areas are likely to be unsuccessful.
He expressed the view that galamsey serves as the primary source of employment for the youth in the region, making it challenging to eradicate the practice without providing viable alternative livelihoods.
Instead of an outright ban, Daasebre Asumadu Appiah proposed introducing a more regulated community mining scheme. He argued that this approach would enable the government to generate revenue from the activity while ensuring environmental protection.
The chief also emphasized the need for greater involvement of traditional leaders (Nananom) in the management of natural resources and criticized the current system, where mining leases and permits are granted by the central government in Accra without proper consultation with local chiefs.
He called for a revision of this practice, advocating for traditional authorities to have a greater say in decisions impacting their lands.
Daasebre Asumadu Appiah made these comments at his palace in Akyem Wenchi during a courtesy call from the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who was visiting as part of his campaign tour of the Eastern Region.
“We don’t have any job opportunities within our community; the only job here is galamsey. As for the galamsey, it is not something we can stop if you tell us to stop. So all we asking is that you give us good policies and guidelines to do it. That is all we are asking from you that bring us those policies,” he said.
Dr. Bawumia emphasized the importance of protecting the environment and stated that his administration would focus on promoting community mining schemes, including implementing a more flexible licensing process for these activities.
The Vice President also assured that traditional authorities would play an active role in the management and allocation of mining concessions.
“I think we haven’t gotten it right. For me, I think we should help small-scale mining and if we can do it well, galamsey will also do well. We need a licensing regime to make it easy so that people can acquire the license to work,” Dr Bawumia said.