The King of the Ashanti Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu has questioned why his chiefs have sat aloof and watched their lands and water bodies destroyed by illegal miners.
He says they cannot be exempted from the blame because they have the authority to protect the lands and water bodies for their people.
“It’s provocating, it’s bad, Nananom we need to also blame ourselves for the current challenges because where you stay you are the Chief and if people are engaged in galamsey if you’re not making money from it, then why are you not reporting them?
It’s your land they are destroying, it’s the source of water for your people they are polluting, what have you done about it? What have you said about it? It’s true that the government has written letters giving them the land s and we will deal with them but what have you done as a Chief? Have you even informed me that they are polluting your water because of galamsey? Have you come from Bompata to tell me, have you come from Ejisu to tell me?
I have given the town to you to take care of it and if they are destroying it with galamsey, are you not seeing it? We are dealing with the government, they bring Soldiers all the time and we don’t see anything,” he said.