The Chief of Wiamoase in the Sekyere South District of the Ashanti Region, Nana Boakye Yiadom, has called on the government to discontinue the current military-led operations against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, alleging that the initiative has been compromised and is failing to achieve its intended purpose.
Speaking to Atinka News reporter Obofo Michael, the chief claimed that some security personnel deployed to combat illegal mining have instead developed relationships with illegal miners, undermining the effectiveness of the operation.
“The military personnel sent to fight galamsey have collaborated with the illegal miners. They are not fighting galamsey; rather, the operation has created jobs for those deployed to stop it,” Nana Boakye Yiadom alleged.
He proposed what he described as a more practical and sustainable approach to addressing illegal mining while creating long-term employment opportunities for young people.
According to the chief, the government should allow individuals already engaged in mining activities to complete operations on the lands they currently occupy. After mining has ceased, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture should conduct scientific soil assessments to determine the most suitable crops for cultivation on the reclaimed land.
“If soil tests show that palm, coconut, cashew, or other crops can thrive on the reclaimed land, then the government should cultivate those crops on the areas that have been degraded by illegal mining,” he suggested.
Nana Boakye Yiadom further recommended that agro-processing factories be established in the affected communities based on the crops cultivated, creating sustainable employment opportunities for former illegal miners and reducing the likelihood of their return to galamsey.
“Government should establish processing factories linked to the crops grown in those communities. This will create jobs for the youth who were engaged in illegal mining and discourage them from returning to the practice,” he said.
The chief criticized the continued deployment of security personnel to mining sites, arguing that the strategy has produced limited results while placing an unnecessary financial burden on the state.
“Government continues to spend significant resources deploying personnel to fight illegal mining, yet allegations persist that some officers accept money and allow the miners to continue operating. This means government is spending huge sums without achieving meaningful results,” he stated.
Nana Boakye Yiadom maintained that transforming degraded mining lands into productive agricultural zones backed by agro-industrial development offers a more sustainable solution to both illegal mining and youth unemployment in mining communities.
He called on policymakers to adopt innovative approaches that combine environmental restoration with economic empowerment to ensure lasting benefits for affected communities.
