By Daily Statesman

Copyright dailystatesman

A Senior Research Fellow at policy think tank, the Institute of Economic Research and Public Policy (IERPP), Dr. Frank Bannor, has dismissed suggestions by government’s functionaries that traditional authorities should lead in the fight against galamsey.

Dr. Frank Bannor, in a note shared with some media outlets, called on the government to lead in the fight against illegal mining activities and stop the media-sponsored narrative that places that burden on traditional authorities.

“The government should not shirk its responsibility in the fight against illegal mining activities. These attempts by persons affiliated to the ruling party to push the narrative out there to the effect that chiefs should lead in the fight against galamsey must be halted immediately” he stated.

Describing this media agenda as state-sponsored, the development economist emphasized that even though traditional authorities have roles to play, they are not the ones to lead in the fight against galamsey.

“From all indications, this media agenda and advocacy is state-sponsored. It is true, we cannot leave traditional authorities out of this fight against illegal mining, but to attempt to push them in the forefront of this battle is nothing but a deliberate effort by the Mahama government to run away from its responsibilities” he added.

Over the past week, prominent figures in the ruling party like the business magnate, Sir Sam Jonah, Kofi Totobi Quakyi, the former Minister for Information, media personalities and political activists from the NDC stock have been calling for traditional leaders to lead the galamsey fight.

“We at IERPP posit that whatever blueprint being developed by the government to combat illegal mining should include punitive actions against owners of excavators and land owners” he added.

He explained that there can never be galamsey on a land without the tacit approval of the landowner. He further stressed that owners of seized excavators must be penalized to deter others from renting out their machines for such activities.

“The NDC told us how they’re going to deal with galamsey in their 2024 manifesto. It never included traditional leaders being tasked to lead the galamsey fight. Government must lead in this fight” he stated in his concluding statement.

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