The Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is alleging that some chiefs are benefiting from the proceeds of the illegal menace.
According to him, some chiefs in the mining areas enjoy the largesse from those involved in the acts in their various areas.
He also adds that the leadership of these galamsey groups often pay homage to the chiefs in their jurisdictions before they proceed to mine the natural resources insisting that no chief can deny knowledge of galamsey activities in his area.
Speaking to Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV, the Suame legislator charged the government to cut off common funds to MMDAs where galamsey is thriving.
He also wants the government to involve the chiefs in efforts to curb the menace.
“The chiefs cannot say they don’t know about the galamsey activities in their area because they benefit from proceeds of those activities. The galamseyers often pay homage to them before proceeding to engage in such activities, so I am suggesting that if we can deal with galamsey, then we must involve the chiefs. Government should also cut off common funds to MMDA’s where galamsey is thriving,” he told morning show host Kwesi Parker-Wilson.
The Suame MP insist this revolutionary approach will cushion the government in its quest to deal with the menace.
