In the heart of Ghana’s ongoing galamsey crisis a term used to describe the rampant illegal mining across the country—an unsettling conversation is gaining momentum.
Kweku Duah, a self-confessed illegal miner from Akim Oda in the Eastern Region, has recently criticized chiefs who publicly condemn the activities of illegal mining while simultaneously facilitating the very problem they are denouncing.
His statements raise crucial questions regarding leadership and accountability in the fight against galamsey.
Duah’s claims highlight a disturbing trend. He pointedly observes that many chiefs, who have traditionally been seen as custodians of the land, have turned a blind eye to the devastation wrought by illegal mining operations within their jurisdictions.
Now, as public discontent grows over the galamsey crisis, these same leaders are quick to point fingers at the national government, notably at President Akufo-Addo, for failing to stem the tide of illegal mining activities.
“These chiefs are liars,” Duah asserts. “They have played serious roles in the crisis but now aim to paint themselves as the saviors of the land.”
This issue cannot be ignored. As traditional custodians, chiefs have the authority to prevent illegal mining on their lands. Under Ghanaian customs, they possess the rights to refuse mining operations, irrespective of governmental pressure or association.
By allowing illegal miners to operate freely, these chiefs have not only contributed to environmental degradation but have also compromised the health and safety of their communities.
Rivers have run dry, and lands have been scarred, yet these leaders remained silent, seemingly indifferent to the consequences of their inaction.
What is most alarming about Duah’s statements is his assertion that these chiefs, who had permitted the destruction to occur, now seek to deflect responsibility onto President Akufo-Addo.
While the government undoubtedly has a role in regulating mining activity and protecting the environment, it is vital to call out the complicity of local chiefs who have failed to act in the best interests of their communities.
Duah’s frustration culminates in a chilling proposition: he suggests that chiefs who allow their communities to be exploited by illegal miners should be subjected to the same consequences faced by their people.
“If I have to punish them,” he said, “I will cause chiefs who allow their community to be used as a galamsey base to drink every day the contaminated dirty water from the galamsey as their daily breakfast to serve as a deterrent for others.”
While such extreme punitive measures may provoke outrage, they underscore a desperate call for accountability and action.
The galamsey crisis is more than just an environmental issue; it is one of governance, responsibility, and collective action. It calls for a reevaluation of the responsibilities held by traditional leaders. When individuals entrusted with the stewardship of land disregard their duties, the consequences ripple throughout society.
