The founder of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, Dr. Ken Ashigbey, has praised Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his decisive actions in addressing the canker, calling his leadership an example for the entire nation.
Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, he highlighted the Asantehene’s recent moves to hold traditional leaders accountable for their involvement in illegal mining activities, commonly known as “galamsey.”
“There is only one leader in this country who is doing what needs to be done — Otumfuo Osei Tutu II,” Dr. Ashigbey said.
“He has shown true leadership by taking action against three of his chiefs who were involved in illegal mining. He didn’t just stop there; he utilised our traditional judicial system, found them guilty, and punished them.”
Dr Ashigbey contrasted the Asantehene’s decisive leadership with what he sees as a lack of action from other leaders, including government officials.
“When you juxtapose what Otumfuo has done with the government’s response, it is clear who is serious about stopping galamsey. The Asantehene has set an example, and if more leaders follow his lead, we can begin to see real change,” he stated.
Dr Ashigbey also expressed frustration over what he described as inadequate government response to illegal mining, referencing instances such as the handling of Akonta Mining.
“The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources pronounced Akonta Mining as being involved in illegality, and Joy News’ Erastus Asare Donkor provided ample evidence to support this. But what did we see? The President sat at a Catholic priests conference and said the company was not involved in illegality,” Dr Ashigbey lamented.
In stark contrast, Dr. Ashigbey highlighted the Asantehene’s actions against illegal mining within his jurisdiction, urging other leaders to follow suit.
“When a king like Otumfuo sees his people engaged in wrongdoing and acts decisively, others will stop,” he stated.
To address the illegal mining crisis, Dr. Ashigbey called for a united effort and urged all political parties to rally around the President to tackle the issue head-on.
“We cannot wait until the next election. We need to focus on preserving our water bodies and environment now. The President, former President John Mahama, and Vice President Dr Bawumia must come together and make this a national priority,” he asserted.
Dr Ashigbey also announced that the Media Coalition Against Galamsey would be launching new initiatives to combat the crisis, including mobilising civil society, labour unions, and religious bodies.
“We are planning a press conference where we will call for collective action. We need to engage lawyers and take legal steps. We cannot afford to wait any longer,” he stressed.
The Asantehene’s leadership, according to Dr. Ashigbey, represents a crucial step towards addressing the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining.
He called for more leaders to demonstrate the same commitment, saying, “If we continue with this lack of leadership, we are designing an ecological system that is bound for extinction.”
