Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI Africa, has called for a re-evaluation of the custodianship of Ghana's mineral resources, suggesting that empowering chiefs could be a key solution to the ongoing illegal mining, or "galamsey," crisis.
Speaking on the menace on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, Cudjoe emphasised the need for a more effective management system to address the environmental and social impacts of galamsey. "If the chiefs were capacitated by the state and given the opportunity to at least have custodial service over these lands, ownership over these lands, then we will know which ones are the irresponsible ones and those that are responsible, and we can hold them in contempt," Cudjoe stated.
He criticised the current state management, describing it as largely ineffective in curbing illegal mining activities.
Cudjoe argued that granting chiefs custodial power over lands could lead to better oversight and accountability. "If chiefs were given some custodial power, I am sure some of these issues would have been solved," he noted.
He further stressed the importance of reassessing who should be the rightful custodians of Ghana's mineral resources. "Clearly speaking, we need to go back to the drawing table and ask ourselves who really should be the custodian over these important mineral resources," Cudjoe added.