The Volta Regional Youth Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mathias Alagbo, has said the fight against illegal mining, galamsey, will only end when traditional rulers take a firm stand against it.
Mr Alagbo argued that galamsey activities take place within communities governed by traditional authorities who are fully aware of what goes on in their jurisdictions and it will take only them, including their youth to stop it.
“The day that our chiefs, our community leaders, our youth say that, in my community there will be no galamsey, that will be the end of galamsey,” he said on PrimeMorning Show on Wednesday, October 15.
He alleged that some traditional leaders have remained silent because they benefit from the practice, making it difficult to speak out against it. “Have you seen any chief and his community people demonstrating against galamsey? as we speak today? no, because they are all participating and they are all benefiting from it,” he alleged.
“When we talk of corruption as one of the driving forces of galamsey, the corruption is not limited to the politicians alone, it is limited to the custodians, it is extended to the true custodians of the land, our chiefs, our youth, it is extended to them,” he added.
According to him, to overcome this, “That is why one of the first and famous thing that President Mahama is doing on stakeholder education and collaboration is to engage these people to educate them on the dangers of galamsey.”
He, however, commended chiefs who have boldly spoken out against the menace and urged them to continue championing the protection of the nation’s lands and water bodies.
“The few community leaders and the chiefs who are speaking up against galamsey need to be encouraged and we are encouraging many more to join the fight, that is why we are education and collaboration is key,” he said.
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