Group petitions IGP to arrest chiefs fueling galamsey

A Group of farmers in the Ashanti region have asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante-Appeatu to arrest chiefs who have released lands for illegal mining activities within their jurisdiction.

Nana Oboodia Obambour Boateng Bonus, president of the Concerned Farmers Association (CFA) has issued a two-day ultimatum asking police to implement the promise of President Akufo-Addo to arrest illegal miners and the chiefs who have released large tracks of lands to them in view of the fact their activities are causing environmental degradation.

Speaking to mynewsgh.com, the president of CFA stated that members of the group per the admonishing from the president during his inauguration are now “acting as citizens not spectators” to prevent the forest reserves under threat following the continuous activities of these miners.

He said, if authorities and the police fail to protect lands and natural resources which is earning the country foreign exchange, they will not hesitate to fight the canker themselves as Ghanaians in their own way.

Nana Obambour Boateng Bonsu reminded President Akufo-Addo of his resolve to protect the water bodies and natural resources after and before he took office as President of the Republic.

He also called for arrest of some staff of Minerals Commission, civil servants and interest groups who engage in the illegal mining activities.

According to him, the association will soon name and shame some chiefs and politicians who have aided illegal mining in the various localities despite their public condemnation.