Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, a recently sworn-in Court of Appeal Judge and Dormaahene, has rejected proposals for the declaration of a state of emergency due to illegal mining, or galamsey.
Justice Agyeman Badu II told reporters that such a measure was needless following President John Dramani Mahama’s swearing-in of new justices.
“No, no, it has not come to that. Let us look at how much Ghana gains in terms of galamsey. Once you declare a state of emergency, you ask yourself who can do what. If we’re not able to get those resources, there will be a gap.
“Nobody will argue that there shouldn’t be mining, but it should be done responsibly. That will solve the whole thing. People who are doing galamsey we’re destroying ourselves; there’s a need to stop galamsey,” he stated.
The Dormaahene emphasized that traditional leaders must actively combat illegal mining. In order to stop the threat, he advised chiefs to use their power inside their own territories.
Justice Agyeman Badu also warned that people who mine illegally were ruining both themselves and the environment, and he urged the law to be enforced so that those who do so face the repercussions.
“I want to appeal to the chiefs, we the chiefs, we shouldn’t say we don’t have the power. If somebody is not allowing people to do galamsey, why can’t you do it? In Dormaa, if you come there, I will arrest you and give you to the police so that you will be prosecuted.
“They should ensure that the people do not engage in galamsey, because if you do it and you are arrested, you know the consequences already,” he warned.