The Krontihene of Akyem Asuom, Nana Boadi Amponim Obodade III, has shared details of how his efforts and initiatives to combat illegal mining in his community were ultimately ineffective.
Speaking to GH One TV on January 17, 2025, the outspoken traditional leader noted that he felt compelled to take action due to the widespread dominance of illegal mining activities, known in local parlance as galamsey in his township. "I took it upon myself to at least find a solution to that [galamsey] and so I together with the Asafo would go around making sure that miners do necessary reclamation," he said.
He mentioned that, as part of his commitment to addressing the issue, he submitted petitions to various government agencies in the Eastern Region, but these efforts did not lead to any positive results. "… I made petitions to several agencies.
I wrote a petition to the Assistant to the Regional Commander of the Eastern Region, Commander Ohene Boadi Bossman, and his people of the Southern Command but didn't have any help from them.
