We must fight Galamsey head-on – Otumfuo to GBA

Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has commended the President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Yaw Acheampong Boafo, for his strong stance against illegal mining, also known as ‘galamsey’, during the opening ceremony of the GBA’s annual conference in Kumasi.

Addressing members of the Bar Association at a dinner at Manhyia Palace, Otumfuo expressed his deep concern over the severe pollution of the Pra River, which he had personally witnessed. He described the situation as “embarrassing” and called for urgent action to combat the destructive impact of illegal mining on the environment.

“I want to congratulate your President on his courageous statement on galamsey this morning at KNUST. Galamsey is an environmental enemy for this nation. What could be worse for a people than to have their entire water supply compromised?” the Asantehene noted.

Otumfuo urged the GBA to set aside time during its five-day conference to form a panel to visit the communities most affected by illegal mining. He believes such a trip would help the association understand the full extent of the crisis and facilitate discussions on how legislation should respond.

“I think as lawyers you should find an opportunity in this five-day conference to set up a panel and do a quick tour of the communities where galamsey is most prevalent. Look at the scale of the crisis we are facing and hopefully you will think about how the law should respond to it,” he said.

The Asantehene also questioned why those responsible for poisoning water bodies with harmful chemicals such as mercury go unpunished.

“The way I see it, a person who poisons a community's water source is legally liable for the consequences. What effect does the law have if someone pours mercury into the same water supply, knowing full well that it can kill?” he asked.

Otumfuo expressed his disappointment at the ongoing environmental degradation and called for joint efforts by all sectors of society to address the crisis. He stressed that it was time for organizations such as the GBA, the Ghana Medical Association and universities, particularly the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), to join forces and lead a national campaign against illegal mining.

“The Ghana Bar Association, the Ghana Medical Association and the universities, especially the KNUST, should come together to find a new way to deal with this emergency,” he urged.

Sharing his personal experience, Otumfuo recounted a recent trip to Cape Coast where he stopped at the Pra River, describing the state of the river as extremely worrying.

“In fact, I stopped at the Pra River on my way to Cape Coast. I am sorry to tell you that what I saw there was so embarrassing. How can we as a nation allow this to happen to us? I don't know, but we have to fight this – no matter what,” he reiterated.

Otumfuo's remarks reflect growing concerns about the destruction caused by illegal mining and underscore the need for immediate action to protect Ghana's natural resources.