The Paramount chief of the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area in the Western North Region has cautioned traditional authorities who are deeply involved and illegal mining (Galamsey) activities to desist from such practices.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, who doubles as the President of the Western North Regional House of Chiefs and The National House of Chief said the alarming rate at which illegal mining activities are moving is destructible.
He said, Galamsey has caused total pollution to the country’s major river and water bodies like the Ankobra, Birim, Offin and others.
He described the situation as “very pathetic” and that is care is not taken, Ghana will be importing water to drink.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, further bemoaned the way and manner the forest reserves have been depleted by illegal miners saying authorities must sit up to salvage the situation because when the last tree dies the last man dies.
The President of the National House of Chiefs also expressed great worry about the double and multiple sale of lands by some traditional authorities which later tends into recruitment of armed land guards who goes to the extent of terrorising innocent people in the societies.
He appealed to chiefs who practice this to put an end to enable peace prevail in their respective jurisdictions.
The paramount chief of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area made these remarks at Sefwi Bibiani as a Special Guest of Honour during the Commissioning of an ultra-modern theatre put up by a philanthropist for the Bibiani Government Hospital.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, commended the good people of Bibiani and Sefwiman for their benevolent spirit they have been exhibiting to support the development of western north region. He further commended the Medical Administrator for the Bibiani Government Akwasi Adu Gyamfi and his competent team of management for making the hospital sustainable.
During the ceremony the management of the hospital appealed for the provision of 13 medical incubator equipment to support unborn premature babies in the Bibiani Government Hospital.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II pledged to provide an incubator and hinted that the 5% Mineral Royalties set aside for the Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Council by Bibiani Gold mines will be used to provide and support the medical equipment of the hospital.
The Abontendomhene of Sefwi Anhwiaso Traditional Area, Nana Kwabena Gyamfi Akwabeng I also pledged on behalf of the chiefs and queen mothers to support the hospital with 1 medical incubator equipment.
The Member of Parliament for the Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai constituency, Mr Alfred Obeng Boateng also pledged for support the hospital with 2 medical incubator equipment.
There was an appeal for funds at the ceremony which people donated and other citizens of Bibiani and institutions also pledged to support the purchase of the medical equipment.
Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, used the occasion to advice the teeming youth of Bibiani Anwhiaso Bekwai municipality to refrain from involving themselves in all sorts of negative practices such as Sakawa, cyber fraud and hard drugs which the end results will make their future miserably but rather engage themselves in employable skills for a better future.
