President John Dramani Mahama has called on traditional leaders to actively involve their communities in the fight against illegal mining to safeguard lands and water bodies.
Speaking in the Western Region during his Thank You Tour, he emphasized that the responsibility should not rest solely on security agencies but should include chiefs and young people to ensure effective protection of natural resources.
This comes as part of the government’s renewed commitment to fulfilling its manifesto pledge to tackle the issue and protect the environment.
President Mahama described the state of the country’s water bodies as alarming and outlined strategies to tackle the long-standing issue of illegal mining, commonly known as ‘Galamsey.’
He stressed the urgent need for collective action to curb the environmental damage caused by illegal mining, emphasizing its importance for the future of communities and the sustainability of natural resources.
Mahama further stated that the responsibility would not rest solely on security agencies but would also involve chiefs and young people in communities to help protect the land, forests, and water bodies.
“We are not going to make it the responsibility of only the security agencies. We are going to involve the chiefs and the young people in the communities to help protect your own lands, your forest, and your water bodies,”
“We will take urgent steps to halt mining activities in our forest reserves and on our rivers.”
