The Ghana Coalition Against Galamsey (GCAG) has called on the National House of Chiefs to make a formal declaration on illegal mining, commonly referred to as 'galamsey.' GCAG which comprises coalitions and a network of organisations from 10 blocks, in response to the president of the House of Chiefs' warning against the repercussions of banning galamsey, said there must be a formal clarification from the traditional group.
President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II during the commissioning of a new Minerals Commission office in the Western North Region, warned that Ghana risks losing millions of dollars if mining is banned.
GCAG in a statement said the House of Chiefs must clarify its position on the galamsey menace as custodians of the customary resources of the country. "We accordingly call on the National House of Chiefs to clarify its position on the specific question of galamsey.
As custodians of the customary resources of the various communities, the House has a crucial role to play in protecting these resources from the ravages of illegal mining. "We urge them to join more forcefully the forces of opposition to the menace that threatens the very lives of their subjects and those of posterity," the coalition's statement read in part.