Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has called on government to adopt tougher measures in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey), including confiscating lands from traditional chiefs whose territories have been destroyed by the activity and placing them under state control.
Mr. Bentil commended the government’s recent decision to declare forest reserves and water bodies as security zones but argued that the move does not go far enough.
“I am happy that they listened, I’m happy that they declared the security zones, but it is not enough. If you declare a security zone, how long can you keep people there? Number two, who owns the land?” he questioned.
He insisted that traditional authorities must be held accountable if galamsey activities occur on their lands, arguing that “If somebody decides to pour mercury on the land, rip up the forest, or put a chamfer on the river and kill the fishes, that chief should lose the land. The forest reserve means we have reserved it from normal exploitation. How do you go into a reserve and mine it? If that happens, forfeit the land.”
Mr. Bentil further emphasized that the devastating effects of galamsey on water bodies, forests, and farmlands demand bolder actions beyond deploying security agencies.
“If you catch somebody anywhere around a galamsey site, forfeit that whole land to the state. That will bring up issues of ownership, but it will make a real difference,” he added.
He maintained that only bold and uncompromising measures would deter further destruction of Ghana’s environment and safeguard the country’s natural resources.
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Source: Frederick Kofi Thompson-Quartey/ATLFMNEWS
