The President of the *National House of Chiefs*, *Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II*, has categorically stated that some chiefs as well as *Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs)* are actively involved in illegal mining, popularly known as *galamsey*.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi made this damning revelation when speaking at the *National Conference for MMDCEs on Illegal Small Scale Mining* organized by the *Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs* held in Kumasi.
The high-level conference brought together MMDCEs from across the country to deliberate on sustainable ways of tackling the illegal small-scale mining menace that continues to destroy water bodies and farmlands.
According to him, the involvement of some traditional leaders and political heads in galamsey is making the fight against the menace very difficult.
He added that it is about time government and other stakeholders strongly discouraged the *unauthorized transfer of use of customary lands* for mining activities that do not comply with the law.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi further stated that where disputes over land ownership or boundaries arise, appropriate dispute resolution mechanisms should be used without allowing such disputes to create opportunities for unlawful exploitation.
Addressing farmers directly, he cautioned: *”You only took the lands for farming, so don’t release the lands to illegal miners. The lands are not yours and you don’t have that power.”*
He called for collective responsibility and sincerity in the fight against illegal mining to protect water bodies, farmlands and forest reserves for future generations.
