Kibi (E/R), Dec. 18, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama at the weekend called for a holistic approach towards the fight against the illegal small scale mining (galamsey) to protect the environment and increase government revenue.

“Let us all stop the blame game as to who was encouraging or not encouraging galamsey operations on our lands and forge ahead to fight the canker,” he said.

Vice President Mahama made this call when he addressed the chiefs and people of Okyeman, during the celebration of the Odwiratuo festival in Kibi in the Eastern Region.

Odwiratuo is normally held on the first three years of a new Okyenhene’s reign at Kibi, either in December or January and it is grander than the annual Odwira festival.

It is a weeklong celebration of the Ofori Panin Stool and festival of the religious purification of gods, stools and stool occupants in Okyeman.

Vice president said the skirmishes between the Okyenhene and some of his subjects over the illegal mining was not helpful and government would provide the necessary support to eliminate the practice in all the mining areas of the country.

He called on all those interested in the small scale mining to acquire licenses to operate and stop the current practice that was degrading the environment and denying government the necessary revenue for development.

The Vice President called on chiefs to use their traditional authority to settle all kinds of disputes including chieftaincy and land disputes in their areas of jurisdiction.

On elections, Vice President Mahama appealed to leaderships of all political parties to educate their members against violence and pray that God would elect a good leader for Ghana in the 2012 elections.

Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II, Okyenhene, called on politicians to respect all laid down rules and regulations pertaining to elections for the country to experience a peaceful and acceptable elections next year.

He said he would continue to fight against galamsey and other social activities that could dent the image of the country and called on government to implement laws that would deter perpetrators of such illegal activities.

The Okyenhene bemoaned the falling standards of education and promised to liaise with the authorities to reverse the trend in his traditional area.