The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Ellembelle, Kwasi Bonzoh has appealed to the government to do all it can to empower the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to fight the galamsey menace.
He also assured the minister for Lands and Natural Resources that, MMDCEs are ready to lead the fight against ‘galamsey,’ hence they need support.
The DCE was responding to the call made by the minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, who urged MMDCEs from mining endemic areas across the country, to take responsibility of leading the fight against illegal mining in their various jurisdiction.
The minister said the fight can only be won if local leaders rally behind the Central Government, urging regional and district security councils, headed by the regional ministers, as well as the MMDCEs to enforce the law to stem the menace.
This, the Ellembelle DCE described as a welcome call since the fight against ‘galamsey’ must be sustained.
Speaking in an interview, Ellembelle DCE Kwasi Bonzoh although the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies are facing numerous challenges that hinder their capacities to fight against the menace, they are ready to lead the fight and bring sanity in the small-scale mining industry.
He said they are on course in the fight against galamsey.
Kwasi Bonzoh averred that once the president has declared this fighthe believes all MMDCEs would sacrifice their lives for the [galamsey] fight. “The illegal mining is an organised crime business because you find them compromising all who do not want to conform to their nefarious ways … they attempt to destroy you!.” He said.
He also revealed that he had suffered and had his fair share of attacks and blackmail because he decided to fight galamsey but that won’t deter him as he is more than prepared to ensure the right things are done.
