Environmental activist and lecturer at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Dr. Frederick Otu-Larbi, has strongly opposed any form of negotiations with illegal miners, stressing that ‘galamsey’ has no place in the country.
He believes the Ashanti Regional Minister’s recent two-week ultimatum to illegal miners to vacate forest reserves and water bodies was merely a signal of intent rather than an effective measure to instill fear or enforce compliance.
Speaking on Luv FM, he criticized the ineffective approach of issuing ultimatums, emphasizing that concrete actions are needed to combat the menace.
Dr. Otu-Larbi argued that an ultimatum does not intimidate illegal miners, as they are unlikely to heed such warnings.
“What is really needed is action on the ground to get the problem solved and not ultimatums,” he said.
Highlighting the widespread nature of illegal mining, Dr. Otu-Larbi called for a decentralized approach to tackling the menace.
He noted that District Chief Executives and District Security Committees of affected regions should take responsibility for addressing ‘galamsey’ at the local level.
“We need to decentralize the fight against illegal mining,” he stated, advocating for district level enforcement to effectively curb the menace.
A major concern raised by Dr. Otu-Larbi is the lack of political will, which he believes is the primary reason local authorities fail to take action.
He observed that district police commanders often hesitate to act against illegal miners who are influential political financiers, including Members of Parliament who were previously involved in galamsey activities.
This political entanglement, he says, makes it difficult for law enforcement officers to carry out their duties without jeopardizing their careers.
“We need political will right from the very top down to the local level to ensure that this fight is won,” he stressed, highlighting that without strong leadership and commitment, efforts to end illegal mining will remain ineffective.
Dr. Otu-Larbi’s remarks serve as a strong call for decisive action, urging authorities to move beyond ineffective ultimatums and implement tangible measures to eradicate illegal mining in Ghana.
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