Awulae Amihere Kpanyinle III is against Galamsey – Nana Ainoo-Kwagyan III reveals on Adom Dwaso Nsem

Galamsey, derived from the phrase “gather them and sell”, is local Ghanaian parlance that means illegal small-scale, gold mining in Ghana. Such workers are known as galamseyers or orpailleurs in neighboring Francophone nations.

Within the small-scale gold mining sector is “galamsey”, a local term used in Ghana for illegal or unregulated gold mining operations.

In January 2017, Cleaning Up Small-scale mining, known popularly as galamsey, has existed in Ghana for generations. The ban on it was first imposed in January 2017 and extended several times, despite opposition from smallscale miners.

ALSO READ: Involve the chiefs in the fight against galamsey – Nana Ainoo-Kwagyan III to Government

In an interview on adom fm Dwaso Nsem with Nana Ainoo-Kwagyan III the Chief of Esiama community in the western region of Ghana Ellembelle district to be precise, he made lots of important points and revelations in the fight against galamsey in Ghana.

according to Nana Ainoo-Kwagyan III, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinle III who happens to be the paramount Chief of Eastern Nzema traditional council has always fought against galamsey in Ghana.

Awulae Amihere Kpanyinle III has instructed the chiefs in the Eastern Nzema traditional council not to be involved in the illegal mining activities. He has always said this in the council meetings, Nana Ainoo-Kwagyan III added.

To combat illegal mining in Ghana, “formal” participation of chiefs and traditional actors in the sector is required. In the long term, customary representatives must also be regular actors in state institutions in charge of land and natural resources.

Galamsey is an act carried out by persons (know on as Galamseyers) who perpetrate illegal gold mining independent of mining companies. The Ghanaian Mineral Mining Act criminalizes Galamsey and makes it an offense punishable with 15 to 25 years imprisonment for persons who engage in the act.

The study concluded that galamsey is mostly responsible for the low food production, spikes in food prices, and the high cost of living, more so, in the galamsey-prone regions in Ghana through the degradation of arable lands, pollution of water bodies, air pollution, shifting labor from agriculture to mining and the .

listen to the audio version of the interview here