Consult traditional authorities before granting mining concessions on stool lands — Baffour Sikabede to gov’t

Akyem Essase Chief Baffour K.S. Sikabede has urged Ghana's government and agencies to consult and provide resources to traditional authorities before granting mining permits on land traditionally governed by chiefs. Speaking at the University of Education, Winneba's Fourth Annual Colloquium, Sikabede emphasized that chiefs are not just ceremonial figures but have long served as stewards of the environment, employing customary rules and taboos to safeguard natural resources.

He underscored the importance of incorporating traditional wisdom into contemporary environmental enforcement efforts rather than relegating chiefs to powerless observers once mining activities have already harmed the land. Sikabede challenged Ghana to treat traditional authorities as genuine partners in environmental protection, rather than leaving them sidelined while concessions are handed out over lands they steward.

He criticized the government's failure to apply existing mining, forestry and water laws fairly, instead of targeting both small-scale miners and well-connected concession holders equally. The chief called on chiefs themselves to uphold ethical standards and resist financial pressures that could threaten their communities' future.

He pledged to prevent any illegal mining on Akyem Essase lands during his tenure and encouraged universities to produce accessible research that enhances environmental accountability. Sikabede urged students to defend Ghana's natural resources through their various platforms, recognizing that they will inherit the outcomes of today's environmental choices.