NDF sensitises chiefs on galamsey fight in Ahafo Ano South West

The Nature and Development Foundation (NDF) joined forces with the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to educate traditional leaders in the Ahafo Ano South West District about Ghana's mineral governance framework, aiming to bolster the battle against illegal mining operations. Held at Mankranso, the capacity-building program emphasized the importance of effective Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes and brought together chiefs, queen mothers, NDF officials, and EPA representatives to address the issue.

Mustapha Seidu, NDF's Executive Director, emphasized the significance of traditional leaders gaining the necessary knowledge to curb illegal mining in their communities. He clarified that chiefs and queen mothers should be able to differentiate between licensed and illegal mining activities on their lands and know the appropriate channels for reporting suspected illegal miners.

Seidu believes that by equipping traditional authorities with information on mineral governance, they can more effectively protect their communities and natural resources.

Nana Adu Pako, the Akwamuhene of Mankranso and a representative of the chiefs, commended the NDF and its partners for organizing the engagement. He noted that traditional leaders often found it challenging to verify claims made by individuals seeking to engage in mining activities on their lands, as some miners would present licences, thereby complicating the process of determining whether the operations were being conducted legally.

Queen Mother Nana Konamah Dampong III of Npasaaso echoed concerns about the escalating incidence of illegal mining in her community. Galamsey had become a significant threat, and she welcomed the training as a timely intervention to empower traditional leaders in identifying and preventing illegal mining activities. She urged stakeholders to maintain such engagements to equip traditional authorities with the knowledge required to safeguard their lands and the environment.