The Paramount Chief of Lower Axim Traditional Area, Awulae Attibrikusu III, has criticized the Akufo-Addo government's approach to combating illegal small-scale mining, galamsey.

He asserted that politicians fund nearly 90% of galamsey operations in Ghana, rendering the government's efforts to combat this issue ineffective.

Speaking at the 2023 Axim Kundum Grand Durbar, Omanhene Attibrikusu III declared that the government is well aware of how to halt illegal mining but is merely engaging in superficial actions.

He further pointed out that the government consistently blames traditional chiefs for the rise in galamsey activities, even though chiefs lack the authority to stop them.

“When it comes to the issue of galamsey, I would always say without fear or favour that the government is full of jokers. I would say this anywhere. Why do I say the government are jokers, as I am seated here, I don’t have any apparatus, I don’t command the police or the soldiers.

“The chamfans that are used for galamsey are imported, who controls the harbour? Is it not the government? So, if the government places an embargo on the import of chamfans, who is going to import them? Who am I, to go and give an order that the import of chamfans should be stopped?

“That is why I’m saying and I would also say it that the government are jokers. They don’t know what they are talking about. It is only the government who can stop galamsey and not chiefs,” he said.

He also emphasized the environmental damage caused by galamsey, particularly to land and water bodies, and expressed disappointment that despite this, the government has not taken decisive action.

He shared that for the first time in his 35 years as chief, he had to purchase fish in Takoradi because there were no fish in the water bodies in his region.