Ken Ashigbey charges local authorities to get involved in Galamsey fight

The menace of illegal mining ‘Galamsey’ in Ghana has cost the country large tracts of arable farmlands and potable water resources and this has become a huge source of concern to the state.
Regardless of the state putting in place maximum efforts to fight this menace, it has achieved minimal results.
However, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunication, Ken Ashigbey has indicated that the sustainable fight against ‘Galamsey’ should not begin and end with the central government.
According to him, the traditional authorities and local government officials are the persons who can see to the definite end of the ‘Galamsey’ menace.
Ken Ashigbey made this known in an interview on Y 107.9 FM’s Y Leaderboard Series hosted by Rev Erskine.
He noted that illegal miners, especially foreigners are introduced to ‘Galamsey’ by indigenes and community leaders. “The Chinese were brought by the Ghanaians to engage in this illegality and that is what is affecting us.
It is the duty of the Chiefs and the Municipal Chief Executives (MCEs) to fight and see to the end of Galamsey”, he added.
The end ‘Galamsey’ advocate furthered that as representatives of President Akufo-Addo, they (Chiefs & MCEs) all see what is happening and their refusal to do the right thing has become problematic.
Comparing Ghana to South Africa, he motioned that the latter has gold in larger quantities comparable to the former but “We don’t see the destruction of lands and water bodies.”
Mr. Ashigbey entreated the country to forcefully apply its laws to the latter as that is the only way the menace can be eradicated and our resources protected.
By: Joel Sanco