Kwasi Bonzoh, Ellembele DCE
In spite of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s pledge and commitment to waging relentless warfare against illegal mining (galamsey), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) are said to be facing considerable challenges fighting the menace on the ground.
The Ellembele DCE, Kwasi Bonzoh, says this is largely due to the involvement of numerous actors in the galamsey menace.
He believes the fight will be successful if Ghanaians join hands with MMDCEs by providing them with information on galamsey sites, owners and their operations.
Mr Bonzoh insists the story will be different if Ghanaians join the fight by acting as watchdogs and whistle-blowers.
In an interview with the Daily Statesman, the DCE reiterated that there is no way the galamsey fight will succeed without the people’s support. He cited the recent operation behind Nkroful Agriculture Secondary School which was reported by Mr Joseph Kwaw Blay, the headmaster.
The DCE noted that but for that tip-off, his office would not have learned of the operation of those illegal miners to take the necessary action.
“Although the illegal miners escaped after causing considerable damage to a portion of the school land just within two days, they would have fully executed their operation and destroyed the whole land with impunity if Mr.Blay had not blown the whistle,” he said.
Inclusion
Mr Bonzoh intimated that since the majority of Ghanaians frown on galamsey, the onus now lies on them to help protect the nation’s forests, farmlands and water bodies by furnishing MMDCEs with information to promptly act on.
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