Just one week after taking office, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has already made a strong impression and is vying for the Western Regional House of Chiefs’ support in the government’s renewed campaign against illegal mining, or galamsey.
At a Durbar held in Sekondi-Takoradi, Western Region, on Thursday, February 6, 2025, the Minister, who is an indigenous of the area, conveyed the sincere appreciation of His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama, as well as the entire Chiefs and residents of the Western Region, for the overwhelming support provided to the party and its candidates in the 2024 elections.
Speaking to the chiefs during the meeting, Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah, MP, stated that galamsey is the top priority and that the government acknowledges the enormous expectations and responsibilities placed on them by the chiefs and people of the area.
He revealed that the purpose of his meeting with the region’s prominent chiefs is to win their support and cooperation as the President Mahama administration fights the galamsey canker under the campaign codename Operation Heal Ghana.
The Western Region is the center of Ghana’s exploitation of natural resources, thus, it is imperative that the government involve them in its efforts to RESET Ghana’s mining industry, according to Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah, the legislator for the Ellembelle seat.
“I stand before you today to thank you, our esteemed Chiefs and Queen-mothers, and the good people of the Western Region for your overwhelming support for the party and me during the December 7th, 2024, elections, and the tremendous support during my vetting upon my nomination”, he said.
“It is not for nothing that it is said that the best comes from the West. God has been gracious to us and blessed us with an abundance of precious minerals, rich vegetation, and peace-loving people. It is in this sense that the good people of the Western Region are looking to our most revered chiefs and queen mothers for exemplary leadership, particularly in the fight against illegalities that destroy the precious gifts God has bestowed on us,” he noted.
“Therefore, on behalf of us from this most beautiful region, I would want to implore our traditional leaders to present a united front in leading us to help preserve our region as the shining star of Ghana. Your unity is not just a strength but a necessity to preserve the legacy of this land for future generations. To put it bluntly, the fight against galamsey must be led by our chiefs and traditional authorities in every nook and cranny of this country,” the minister maintained.
“I was sworn in last week as the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources by the President and assigned this arduous task of driving the campaign to ‘Heal Ghana” and ‘stop the bleeding” that galamsey and other illegalities are causing the environment (lands, forests, and water bodies), and as a son of this soil, I came to seek your blessings in navigating the Ministry and to ask for your utmost support to help us reset this nation for good and for our generations yet unborn. The biggest challenges today are illegal mining, the pollution of our precious water bodies, and the degradation of forest reserves.”
The Minister went on to highlight the main components of the government’s new anti-galamsey program, emphasizing the introduction of fresh projects as well as the evaluation and expansion of the previous administration’s tactics.
“As part of H.E. President Mahama’s government Reset Agenda, several policy options and measures have been outlined to help sanitize the mining sector, particularly the small-scale mining sub-sector. We want to ensure that mining operations are not conducted in unapproved areas, such as water bodies, and that the concession holders rehabilitate impacted areas. It is the view of the government that the current licensing regime can be improved by being more inclusive,” he stated.
“We will strengthen the capacity of mining regulatory operations with quick turnaround times and engage with key stakeholders effectively to ensure efficiency. With Nananom being the real custodians of the land in which the precious minerals are embedded, you must be actively engaged in the pre and post-licensing period to keep you abreast of happenings in your jurisdictions.
“The Community Mining Scheme in its current form is not transparent and inclusive enough to be able to address the challenges underpinning its formulation. It is highly partisan, exclusive, and defeatist of its own purpose. We are abolishing it and establishing the Artisanal Small-scale Mining Cooperatives (ASMCs) for community members interested in artisanal small-scale mining. We will facilitate the setting up of mining equipment pools in each small-scale mining district to ensure easy and affordable access to necessary mining equipment,” he said.
In order to guarantee that harmony and peace rule the area, the Hon. Minister utilized his visit to the House of Chiefs to mediate a settlement amongst the different groups inside the traditional area.
In the meantime, the Hon. Minister cautioned against chieftaincy disputes and other issues that could impede the region’s progress while using his visit to the House of Chiefs to mediate peace between the various factions within the traditional area.
The Paramount Chief (Omanhen) of the Essikado (British Sekondi) Traditional Area in the Western Region, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, praised Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah for initiating the conversation with the Chiefs over the government’s measures to combat illicit mining.
Some of the chiefs voiced their concerns in an open forum regarding land issues, mining laws, and other issues that their different sub-sectors were facing.
The chiefs also urged the Minister to make sure that the Operation Recover All Loot committee’s efforts encompass land concerns in the area. They also said they are willing to assist him in his endeavors, as their success would represent a major win for the Western Region.
In addition to thanking the chiefs, the minister pledged to listen to their worries and consult with them on matters concerning his administration and ministry on a regular basis.
Source: newsthemegh.com