Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Henry Kwabena Kokofu, has acknowledged that the military-led approach by government to combating illegal mining has not been entirely successful. Mr Henry Kwabena Kokofu made this information known in response to the National House of Chiefs' call for comprehensive measures against illegal mining.

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He expressed the view that collaborating with traditional authorities would be a pivotal game-changer in the fight against illegal mining.

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“We do know that governments upon governments have taken steps over the years to initiate several policies and programs in an attempt to curb illegal mining including the use of the military and other security agencies, but it seems not to be getting results, so this encounter is to solicit the wisdom of nananom to help us deliver on what we are targeting in the fight against illegal mining.

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”The National House of Chiefs has restated its call for the government to implement comprehensive measures to effectively combat the problem of illegal mining in the country.Emphasizing the importance of a collective effort, the House underscored the need for all stakeholders to be actively involved in the fight against illegal mining, urging that it should be free from political considerations.

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During a meeting in Kumasi, officials from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were invited to engage in discussions aimed at finding lasting solutions to the issue. President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, used the occasion to highlight the significant role that chiefs can play in addressing the challenge of illegal mining in Ghana.

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“This meeting is long overdue, but it is better now than later because I strongly believe that if Nananom are included and empowered in the fight against galamsey, we can be assured of more effective results. Illegal mining has resulted in environmental degradation, including deforestation, pollution of water bodies and rivers, and soil erosion.

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Illegal miners also use toxic chemicals and heavy metals including cyanide, mercury, sulphuric acid, and lead, which have negative effects on individuals and must therefore be stopped," he said.

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