Instead of concentrating only on the young people who go out to get their daily bread, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu says the government should target the "big fishes" in the galamsey industry, catching and prosecuting them. The ministry of Lands and Natural Resources should also create an alternative livelihood program to support the young people.
According to him, youth unemployment is the primary source of the illicit mining canker. He said that young people in mining areas would be less likely to succumb to the lure of mining in forest reserves and water bodies if they were exposed to worthwhile and sustainable forms of income.
These statements were given by the Asantehene during a courtesy call by Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources. In addition to expressing his great trust in the Lands Minister's ability to fulfill his duties as Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu praised the Lands Minister for the visit and asked Heads of Agencies and other ministry officials to provide assistance.
The Asanthene's backing and direction are crucial as the government embarks on a mission to restructure the nation's mining and forest sub-sectors, according to Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah. As he works to transform the lands sector through the implementation of creative and transformative projects, the sector minister humbly asked the Asantehene to share his leadership and wisdom. He also praised the Asantehene for his exceptional and exemplary leadership, which is demonstrated by the absence of land-related disputes in the Ashanti Region.
Regarding public lands, Otumfuo also advised the minister of lands to make sure that during his term, the practice of selling public properties to public officials without any discernible purpose be stopped.
Citing the Tree for Life program as admirable, he commended the Lands Minister for the vigorous afforestation effort and promised his support for the project.
Regarding unlawful mining, Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah praised Otumfuo for some significant earlier interventions and urged support for him and the administration as they forged a new course that he believed would result in a total change of the situation.
He bemoaned the catastrophic effects of galamsey on the nation, pointing out that the turbidity level of the nation's main water bodies has increased from 5,000 NTU to 12,000 and that this has destroyed forty-four (44) of the country's 288 forest reserves.
In addition to outlining the urgent and drastic measures the administration has taken to address the issue, Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah underlined
the gravity of the situation.
Among the initiatives are the creation of an 18-member expert group to evaluate the licensing system, reclassify the mining categories, and revamp the Community Mining Scheme.
"We really appreciate Otumfou's counsel and backing of the reset initiative that we have started. The 18-member working committee was established as the first step in the approach we have outlined to address important projects. He said, "We are also introducing medium-scale mining and reclassifying the mining categories."
Thanking Otumfuo for his guidance and assistance, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, the Ashanti Regional Minister, promised to collaborate with his other ministers to address the galamsey threat.
Earlier, Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah accompanied the Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, the Interior Minister, and Hon. Dr. Edward Omane-Boamah, the Defense Minister, on a tour of the Afari Military Hospital. The project was started in 2014 by the Mahama-led government but stalled under President Akufo-Addo's administration.
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