The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has advocated for traditional leaders to be granted greater authority, emphasizing that this would help combat illegal mining (galamsey) and promote local development.
Speaking on State of Affairs with Joshua Kodjo Mensah, Ibrahim questioned the limited powers of chiefs in dealing with illegal mining activities within their jurisdictions. "Can you imagine if chiefs were given the power to summon people mining illegally in their jurisdictions?" he asked. "Right now, a miner gets a letter from the minister of lands, enters the chief's area, and starts digging.
The chief calls him, and he refuses to come.
What can the chief do?" He stressed that traditional rulers, as the true custodians of the land, should be empowered to take decisive action against such unlawful activities. "The chiefs are the true custodians of the land.
