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Agonehene: Chiefs have no mandate to stop 'galamsey'

By Ghana I Nhyira FM I Ohemeng Tawiah
General News Agonehene: Chiefs have no mandate to stop 'galamsey'
MAY 30, 2016 LISTEN

The Paramount Chief of Agona in the Ashanti region has taken a swipe at those who wrongly accuse traditional authorities for being complicit in their roles in the degradation of the environment.

Nana Frimpong Anokye Ababio says the Minerals Act and parliament should be blamed for enacting laws that limit the powers of chiefs.

According to him, though chiefs are regarded as custodians and owners of lands, ownership of mineral deposits, timber and wildlife on the same lands are deferred to government.

Speaking at a durbar to commemorate the 5th Forestry Week at Agona over the weekend, Nana Frimpong says chiefs have no powers to stop destruction of the forest and environmental degradation in their respective localities.

“Chiefs are supposed to be the owners and custodians of the land but one sad thing is that, the same constitution, chiefs are not the owners of the trees on the land,” he stressed.

He continued, “We are constrained by so many things. If somebody is in your traditional area and he degrades the environment, I do not have the authority to arrest.

If I see somebody degrading the land through galamsey, I cannot stop him because I do not have the mandate to do that.. Somebody issues the permit from Accra without even consulting the traditional area and then you sit in Accra and blame me.”

Nana Frimpong who was the chairman for the Forestry Day celebrations says until chiefs are given mandate to act, they cannot be blamed for things they have no control over.

He is appalled by sections of the Minerals Acts which empower the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Minerals Commission to regulate lands and issue mining leases and permits without the direct involvements of traditional authorities who are owners and custodians of the lands.

“I am one of the leaders. Give me the mandate and as I don’t act, then you can hold me responsible.

But you’ve not given me any mandate. How can you hold me responsible for galamsey? I remember sometime ago, somebody from Accra had issued a permit for my traditional area has a good ground for gold particularly galamsey. The one with the permit came. I told them that they were idiots”.

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