Otumfuor Osei Tutu, King of the Ashanti, called out chiefs who fall under his purview for being engaged in the illegal mining activities that have ravaged the Kingdom’s woods and waterways.
Additionally, he called the country’s efforts to stop the threat “Camouflage,” which refers to security officers deployed to various locations.
The King said that none of his sub-chiefs had the resolve to alert him to any unlawful activity taking place in their region, and some of them had even taken money with the intention of helping those engaged in the crime. Tragically, cocoa plants are destroyed to make space for illegal operations.
The host of “With All Due Respect,” Kevin Ekow Baidoo Taylor, responded to the King’s comments by saying that it smells of double standards and that if the King is complaining, to whom would others complain? He went on to state that there are 68 paramount chiefs and that Otumfuor Osei Tutu, who has the authority to end galamsey, owns all of the lands.
“Why doesn’t Otumfuor vehemently forbid excavators in his realm and issue a decree forbidding anyone from digging in the ground in search of gold? Is Otumfuor criticizing or blaming unlawful mining? Otumfuor’s stance suggests that he possesses no authority in the Ashanti Kingdom “Finally, he said.
Source: TheBBCghana.Com
