The Omanhene of the Essikado Traditional Area, Nana Kobina Nketiah IV, has called for the state powers to be used to deal with any person engaged in illegal mining activity, popularly known as galamsey.
According to him, anyone involved in illegal mining activity is a ‘criminal’ who should be treated as such by the authorities since galamsey is anti-Ghana.
The paramount chief made the assertion when the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, paid a courtesy call on him at his palace in Takoradi on Monday.
He was worried that some Ghanaians were aiding foreigners, particularly Chinese, to engage in galamsey operation by fronting for them to the detriment of the country.
Nana Nketiah IV wants any obstacles in the fight against the menace to be removed, noting that there should be no political colouration in the fight against galamsey.
He stated that the founders of the nation shed their blood to build Ghana, and that it was time for all and sundry to play their individual role to stop the galamsey menace.
The chief argued that the memory of the Akufo-Addo-led government would be lost in history if it fails in the fight against galamsey.
Meanwhile, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister has confirmed taking delivery of some seized illegal mining excavators from the Western Region.
Kwabena Otchere-Darko, the Western Regional Minister, recently announced the seizure of some 16 excavators that were being used for galamsey activities, while calling for all persons who are alleged to be involved in galamsey to be dealt with without fear or favour.
Mr. Jinapor, in a response, said his outfit had received some excavators and commended the Regional Minister and his security officers for the seizure of the excavators.
He charged the Western Regional Security Council to continuously enforce the laws regarding small scale mining and its related activities in the region.
He said the law enforcement component of galamsey falls within the mandate of national security and the regional security councils, adding that no one is above the laws of the country.
By Melvin Tarlue