Adansihene, Opagyakotwere Afriyie Bonsrah II, is blaming the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, for the ongoing illegal mining in his paramountcy.
According to the chief who says he is not against mining but the irresponsible form of it, he started destooling some chiefs who were involved in the act in his paramountcy until he was allegedly directed to stop.
The paramount chief of the Adansi Traditional Area says he received a letter from the Adansi North District Security Council (DISEC) asking him and other traditional authorities not to meddle in the fight against illegal mining.
The directive, according to the chief, had come from the Regional Minister per the content of the letter from the Adansi North DISEC.
Expressing his dissatisfaction on the directive, the leader of the Adansi Traditional Council, who appears unhappy with the destruction caused by galamsey in his area called on residents to hold the DCE and the Ashanti regional minister accountable if the menace continue to flourish.
“Galamsey has really cost us a lot in Adansi. In my earlier days of enstoolment, I started destooling some chiefs in my paramountcy who were involved. But recently I received a letter from the DCE that the Regional Minister has written to him to tell all chiefs to stay out of galamsey issues and hand everything over to DISEC.
“I have the letter on my phone; that as a chief who is the custodian of all the lands in my paramountcy, government is telling me that if someone is destroying my land, I can’t comment about it but I should report to the government. Meanwhile, government officials are aware of what is going on. I’m not against mining but I’m against irresponsible mining.
“So, if anyone has anything to say, it is the DCE and the Regional Minister who have stopped me not to talk about galamsey again,” he narrated.
He was celebrating his 10th anniversary as Adansihene on Saturday, September 28, 2024 when he made the comments.
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