He said such chiefs would have passed their productive period of life and must have no difficulty letting go their hold of the stool.

He added that any traditional ruler after about 35 years reign should have achieved anything they might have set for themselves to bring progress to the people they were leading.

Addressing a meeting of the Akyem-Abuakwa State Council at Akwatia, he rallied the chiefs to give serious consideration to the proposal and to endorse it.

The Okyehene suggested any retiring chief should be adequately compensated, provided with healthcare benefits and receive fitting royal burial upon death.

Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, now 67, indicated his readiness to vacate the stool at 75, if the proposal was agreed to by the Council.

The chiefs pleaded with him for time to allow for adequate consultations on the radical reform.

The relatively younger chiefs appear to have no problem with it, but the same cannot be said of those who are either nearing or already passed their 75th birthday.

The latter are not only unexcited, but look visibly apprehensive. Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin used the occasion to caution them against giving out lands for illegal mining in their communities.

Offending chiefs, he declared, would forfeit their title to those lands.

He repeated his unswerving commitment towards helping the government to reclaim lands destroyed through illegal mining.

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Source: GNA

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He said knowledge is pivotal in every dispensation and it is critical for graduates to apply the skills acquired to transform the country and make it great and strong.

Osagyefuo Ofori Panin said this on Saturday at the 17th graduation ceremony of Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) graduate and undergraduate students.

He urged the graduates, who were trained in governance, technology and business administration, to integrate their skills to become change ambassadors and ensure that the knowledge gained would benefit the entire society.

“You need to search your goals as graduates, be persistent in the pursuit of your vision and strive hard for success because we live in a world that is knowledge-driven and need to take advantage to grow”, he said.

The Okyenhene said every country that has developed was hinged on what they know and how well the knowledge was effectively utilised to the benefit of all, saying development in Africa has slowed down because of failure to apply the knowledge acquired.

He expressed worry about the spate of unemployment in the country saying about 40,000 students would graduate this year and this would add to the existing numbers.

He called for decentralisation to give opportunities to others to take charge of responsibilities to spur developmental in the local communities.

Osagyefuo Ofori Panin said the country must continue to be seen as politically stable, good socio-economic indicators, peace and unity and better education devoid of negative vices that militate development.

He said there was hope for the country and assured all to take full responsibility of our actions and rise above parochial interests and focus on the interest of the nation.

Professor Jophus Anamuah-Mensah, Former Vice Chancellor of Winneba University of Education, said tertiary education is critical for economic and political development and this provided avenue for the needed human resource development.

“We need bold and aspirational visions to transform the tertiary educational system to respond to the direction for change in the society through the production of highly skilled work force” he said.

Prof Philip Ebow Bondzi-Simpson, Rector of GIMPA, said the Institute was positioned to build on its strengths and take advantage of existing opportunities and remain the centre of excellence in leadership, management and public administration.

“GIMPA will continue to foster teamwork and unity, focus on student services, learning environment and curriculum development, have a vibrant and viable satellite campuses and focus on revenue generation, cost control and accurate financial reporting”.

Prof Bondzi-Simpson said the Institute has invested in the development of staff through a number of training programmes both locally and internationally, and would continue to improve upon its human resource development, performance and compensation issues.

He said students of School of Technology won the 2017 Mobile App Challenge, an annual competition aimed at encouraging computer science students to develop innovative technology solutions which addresses real life business and societal issues.

The Rector urged the graduates to put to good use the skills and knowledge acquired and make a difference in their field of work.

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Source: GNA

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Speaking at Kyebi as Okyeman marked this year’s Ohum Festival, the overlord of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Authority said it was important for government to ensure that Ghanaians are relieved from their hardships.

Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin lauded President Akufo-Addo’s free Senior High School education policy, stating the policy will ensure that the youth are educated.

He however pleaded to the president to ensure the construction of all deplorable roads in the Eastern Region to help facilitate and enhance trading activities in the region.

“Every community has the same, if not all of some of the problem here in Okyeman. We plead with you to fix the roads in the Eastern Region especially Okyeman. The roads here are really bad and that is what we use for all our domestic and economic activities.”

“We congratulate you for your free SHS policy, it is a great initiative to ensure that poverty does not hinder anyone who wants to go to school. We also know that across the world, countries have developed not because of the resources that they have, but the knowledge they have applied to the resources that they have. If the success of a country was determined by their resources, Africa would have been the most powerful. We have everything but we are still poor. I believe that in your tenure things will change if you add knowledge to the resources that we have, we will really go far,” he added.

The President, Nana Akufo-Addo, who also spoke at the ceremony said his government has put in place measures to fully utilize the resources of the country for the benefit of all.

“Ghana is not a poor country; it is a country full of resources. We have plans in place and very soon everyone will see the rich potential that we had all these while. This will benefit everyone. I will say that we will work on the road soon. God has blessed me too, every appointee I have chosen to govern the country is intelligent. All I know is that a government has come to change the fortunes of Ghanaians for the better; that is the Akufo-Addo government. I need your prayers to help me achieve all that I have promised,” he added.

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By: Neil Nii Amatey Kanarku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Speaking at a ceremony to mark this year’s World Environment Day Celebration at Kyebi in the Eastern Region, the overlord of the Akyem Abuakwa traditional area who was the chairman of the celebration, said he is confident that the president will solve the galamsey problems.

“With a new sheriff in town, the president Nana Akuffo Addo with his minister of Lands and Natural Resources John Peter Amewu with help from the media and the right policies, I believe we will see an end to this galamsey issue, we will win the fight against galamsey”

Okyenhene reiterated his quest to join the fight against galamsey, saying ” the damage we have caused to the environment is enough; we will make sure we return the polluted Birim River to its natural course. With measures, policies and good supervision, we will maintain what is left now.”

Poverty drove people into galamsey

Okyenhene Amoatia Ofori Panyin also revealed how poverty forced several others into the galamsey business due to survival.

“Before we solve galamsey we should solve the things that go wrong and poverty is one because most of our people are poor, poverty is a disease and in this part of the world it is endemic. It is poverty that has led a lot of kids into galamsey and they have messed up the water so we must try to fight poverty.”

EPA should be autonomous

Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin II, also called on government to make EPA an autonomous body to make it more effective.

“We need to make the EPA autonomous, it has to be resourced to be able to function properly, the EPA, which is a regulator cannot be under the environment ministry which is a policy maker, all regulatory agencies should be autonomous.”

As part of the celebration, a host of music stars including Obour, Nero X, Mizz Vee, Sherifa Gunu and others, thrilled the dignitaries and the audience as they performed a new song titled “Atewa Till Eternity” composed to champion the conservation of the Atewa Forest into a National Park Reserve.

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By: Neil Amartey Kanarku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Okyenhene is livid over claims of his supposed ties to illegal mining, along with a BNI report alleging same, and has vowed to sue anybody who disrespects him by associating him with the menace.

[contextly_sidebar id=”BJ08SFbW0VTJUINm0zdJcN5aZJTkwSe9″]He said he was no longer going to take accusations lying down and “anybody that my lawyers hear impugn my name with this activity will have to meet us in court.”

Osagyefuo Ofori Panin vented his frustrations when members of the Council of State paid a courtesy call on him as part of their tour and assessment of areas affected by illegal mining.

Allegations are crazy

The Okyenhene stressed the magnitude of the effects of illegal mining, which he described as a “betrayal of the future generations” and from a logical standpoint, the chief saw no sense in mining on a land he owned illegally when he could just as easily get a licence.

“If the land in Akyem Abuakwa is mine and I have an interest in gold, can’t I go to the Minerals Commission to pick up a license to do mining properly if that is what I choose to do.? It is crazy for anybody to think that I would get up at night and go and steal my own land.”

“Illegal mining is a criminal activity and for anybody to impugn my name with an activity that is criminal is a serious one. I know too much and I love this nation too much to even engage in it. How much money can it even pay me.”

“I am tired of my family and my friends and the people who know me hearing that somehow I am involved in this,” Osagyefuo Ofori Panin stated.

As far as the allegations are concerned, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources stepped in to quell any links between the Okyenhene and illegal mining, noting that the Okyenhene’s Foundation has rather been at the forefront of the fight against illegal mining.

The ministry took into account media publications saying the BNI had in a report, mentioned the Okyenhene’s palace as “perceived to be behind illegal mining activities in the Kyebi area”.

The Okyenhene, on his part, demanded an immediate apology from the BNI for wrongfully accusing him of engaging in illegal mining activities.

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By: Kojo Agyeman & Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post I will sue anyone who tags me with galamsey – Okyenhene appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

That followed a BNI report which named the chief among scores of other chiefs from eight regions of the country as being engaged in illegal mining activities.

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The Okyenhene, head of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council, is of the view that purchasing made in Ghana cars by Kantanka group of companies will not only provide jobs, but will encourage others to also unearth their God-given talents.

He said, “government must purchase some of the Kantanka vehicles for institutions such as the Police Service, Fire Service, Immigration Service among others to use, instead of purchasing foreign cars which are of a higher value like importing land cruisers at between $ 140,000 and $ 150,000.”

The Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin made this statement at a short handing over ceremony at Kyebi, when the Kantanka Automobile company delivered a customized four-wheel drive to him at his palace.

The Okyenhene, who purchased the vehicle at the cost of $35,000, commended the founder, Apostle Kwadwo Sarfo,  for his consistency in using technology to change lives in the country.

“I have always admired Apostle Sarfo for his ingenuity especially in the area of agriculture, I love the way he has manufactured tools and other farming equipment which helps a lot of farmers to cultivate their lands. I always say that government needs to seek his depth of knowledge if they want to tackle the agriculture sector. This car is of good quality, very spacious and I will not allow anyone not even my driver to touch the steering wheel, I will drive it myself.”

The CEO of Kantanka group of companies, Kwadwo Sarfo Kantanka Jnr., pleaded with government to give the company a tax waiver to be able to manufacture products at affordable prices for Ghanaians.

“Giving us a waiver on tax will not only make our cars affordable, but it will provide employment to a lot of unemployed Ghanaian youth as the demand for our cars will increase which will then also make us expand and employ more hands”

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By: Neil Nii Amatey Kanarku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, who made the revelation in an exclusive interview with Host of the Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle, when the illegal miners are prevented from operating during the day, they continue when everyone is asleep.

[contextly_sidebar id=”WzsRRJhSyGNFQrXDt3e5lMoSFSxngek3″]“These guys have come from Mali, Niger, China and when we stop them during the day time, at night they go to work. So you may see a place where there is no destruction, but by the time you wake up…it’s been mined. Within two hours, these guys can do whatever damage they want to do,” he lamented.

I don’t do galamsey

They Okyenhene took advantage of the interview to also dismiss allegations leveled against him by some of his subjects that he engages in the illegal activity within the Akyem Abuakwa states.

Ofori Panin rubbished the claims and described his critics as either having “small minds” or being “mischievous.”

“It’s either people are ignorant, or they have small minds, evil, mischievous, or playing or they are stupid to think that I will be involved in this [galamsey]. I grew up in Akwaita, I saw the destruction there after I came back from overseas. I saw the destruction in Tarkwa and Bogosu, I had been around this country, there is no town that we can represent and say that there was gold here and that town had benefited. So why anybody with my education and my reputation get down and tolerate this. When you see good people and they are honest and they go out and do their own things, it is different things from people obeying you and seeing your authority and going underneath to do something else,” he added.

#StopGalamseyNow

The chief made the comment on the back of intense pressure which has been mounted on government in recent times to stop illegal miners from polluting water bodies and farmlands.

Analysts have predicted that Ghana may soon import water if the trend persists.

This is because a number of water treatment plants have been shut down because their source of water has been rendered useless due to galamsey activities.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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The Okyenhene has been criticized for looking unconcerned while illegal miners destroy water bodies and lands within the Akyem Abuakwa state, but in an exclusive interview with host of the Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Avle on Tuesday, Ofori Panin said his critics were either ignorant or mischievous.

[contextly_sidebar id=”oXkvQ7Z4UEGgaHWMS91cvxd3Sdw0Pjbe”]“It’s either people are ignorant, or they have small minds, evil, mischievous, or playing or they are stupid to think that I will be involved in this [galamsey]. I grew up in Akwaita, I saw the destruction there after I came back from overseas. I saw the destruction in Tarkwa and Bogosu, I had been around this country, there is no town that we can represent and say that there was gold here and that town had benefited. So why anybody with my education and my reputation get down and tolerate this. When you see good people and they are honest and they go out and do their own things, it is different things from people obeying you and seeing your authority and going underneath to do something else,” he added.

The Okyenhene explained that, galamsey activities begun within the Abuakwa states around 2009, adding that he waged the war against the activity.

He noted that, a task-force he set up yielded little results, for which reason he complained to the duty bearers to help control the menace but that also proved futile.

“It started around 2009, when we saw a bunch of people coming from the Akwatia area to our area, and they started doing their galamsey. We immediately sent them a message to stop it. I myself visited the President, Mills and told him that what is coming is quite dangerous and we need to stop. The president called the then regional minister, Ofosu Ampofo and told him that you need to do whatever you can to stop it. Ofosu Ampofo put his team together and confiscated some of their equipment.”

He said 15 days after the equipment including excavators were seized, they were given back to their owners while the galamsey continued unabated.

“There is not one single person who matters in this environment that I have not talked to –  the chamber of mines, the minerals commission, forestry commission, the president, MPs, among others.”

Arrest and punish them

He further said the only way to stop the menace is to enforce the laws and punish those arrested.

#StopGalamseyNow

The Okyenhene’s comment comes on the back of intense pressure being mounted on government to stop galamsey, following reports that Ghana may soon import water if the trend persists.

Activities of illegal miners are said to have destroyed a number of water bodies and farmlands.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post I don’t condone galamsey – Okyenhene replies critics appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Describing small-scale mining as official galamsey, he said: “There is no way we can deal with galamsey if we allow small-scale mining to subsist. Small-scale mining must be banned alongside galamsey.”

“In practical terms, there are barely any differences, either organisationally or technologically, between unregistered illegal miners and registered small-scale miners,” he told the Daily Graphic in an exclusive interview at the Ofori Panin Fie in Kyebi in the Eastern Region last Friday.

No licence

“We cannot continue to issue licences to small-scale miners when, as a country, we lack the regulatory mechanism to evaluate risks thoroughly and ensure that the methods and chemicals used are safe.

“Both galamsey and small-scale mining involve rudimentary techniques of mineral extraction, highly manual processes, hazardous working conditions and minimal capital investment. The only difference is that registered small-scale miners have security of land tenure,” he added.

The Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area, which is under the authority of the Okyenhene, has seen one of the worst effects of illegal mining, from the pollution of water bodies to the destruction of cocoa farms and agricultural land.

The Okyenhene expressed worry over the high level of pollution which he said could be a ticking public health time bomb.

Pollution and dangers

Ghana’s mining laws require that mining companies treat the water used for mining activities before it is discharged into the environment, but for illegal miners, water bodies are the centre of their operations, a situation that makes communities living along rivers vulnerable to the effects of the dangerous chemicals used.

Osagyefo Ofori Panin observed that galamsey activities exposed many Ghanaians to health challenges through the drinking of water contaminated by gaseous mercury, adding that many rural dwellers living along the banks of rivers were exposed to mercury-contaminated raw water.

Indeed, traces of two heavy metals, arsenic and mercury, found in the Birim River in a research conducted by the Water Research Institute (WRI) have been tagged as harmful by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

“Mercury may have toxic effects on the nervous, digestive and immune systems and on lungs, kidneys, the skin and eyes. People are mainly exposed to methylmercury, an organic compound, when they eat fish and shellfish that contain the compound,” the WHO said on its website.

The Okyenhene, therefore, urged the government to ban the sale of mercury.

My actions

In 2013, the Mahama Administration rolled out a big crackdown on illegal mining, which resulted in hundreds of illegal foreign miners being deported, but the campaign lost steam midway.

According to the Akyem Abuakwa overlord, it was because there were “big boys” in the galamsey chain who put their interest over the environment.

While he could not mention names, he said “trust me. There are big boys. These boys around here don’t have money to buy excavators and they don’t have money to pay for the rent which is about GH¢2000 per day.”

“Every one of them has sponsors, big ones coming from Accra. They have party affiliations. I’m not singling out any party but what I am saying is there is a whole mafia around this galamsey.”

He said since 2009, he had made several attempts to rid his land of illegal mining without success because whenever the excavators were seized there was always an excuse to hand it over to the owners.

Citing a recent example, he said “last October, after being so frustrated, I caught up with the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and we discussed at length the illegal mining issue and I asked him to do me a favour by sending some of his men.”

He explained that together with some of his subjects, they flew over the area and spotted the hot spots.

“A week later, they came to this town with 350 soldiers, within four days, the whole galamsey area was shut down. On the sixth day, the soldiers were called back to Accra… orders from above…

“You can check this with the CDS. Within four to five days, the whole place was shut down, that is why I believe law enforcement can stop this. They were running, and they were hiding their machines.

“The soldiers went back to Accra. He was called and told don’t you know it is an election year? They placed votes ahead of voters’ life? After they left two days later, the operation began again.”

He said he had a similar experience with the late President J.E.A Mills, who directed the then Eastern Regional Minister Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, to deal with the situation.

He said the excavators which were seized were returned to the owners with the excuse that “the owners did not know the boys would be using it for galamsey.”

He said while he had largely educated his subjects on the dangers of galamsey and dismissed some of his staff who went into it, there were more armed foreigners in the pit who were not afraid to use their weapons.

“Out of frustration, I hired some people to chase the galamseyers out but they were armed so we gave up.”

PMMC & galamsey

Long before small-scale mining was formalised in 1986, Ghanaians in mining communities across the country who felt left out of mining jobs in the formal sector always found underground pits tempting and fruitful.

That was what gave birth to the expression ‘gather and sell’, which has been corrupted to ‘galamsey’ in Ghana.

The Okyenhene alleged that the state would be engaged in double standards if it condemned illegal mining but the Precious Minerals Marketing Corporation (PMMC) failed to do due diligence on the sources of the gold it bought.

“Galamsey or illegal mining accounts for about 35 per cent of total gold proceeds in the country. The government of Ghana has set up an institution responsible for the purchase of all gold in the country. In exercising its monopoly over gold purchase, the PMMC does not make a distinction between proceeds from illegal mining and regular mining,” he declared.

Kimberly process

As the world became engulfed in conflicts, fuelled by rough diamonds sold by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments, in May 2000, the Kimberly Process (KP), a joint government, industry and civil society initiative to stem the flow of conflict diamonds, was rolled out.

Under the KP, diamonds from conflict zones, referred to as blood diamonds, are not allowed to be sold on the international market.

According to Osagyefo Ofori Panin, while Ghana might not be at war, it was obvious that a section of Ghanaians and foreigners from West Africa and China had declared war on Ghana’s natural resources.

He recommended that, as a first step to dealing with the galamsey menace, the government must implement the policy principle underlying the KP Certificate Scheme.

“We cannot condemn the evils of illegal mining and still buy proceeds of gold from it,” he added, saying that gold from such sources could also be referred to as blood gold.

Media campaign

He described the media campaign against galamsey as a worthy initiative that needed to be sustained, saying: “As a nation, we are going nowhere if we continue this line. They have to sustain it. Now people are beginning to feel what the devastation is about. We have to continue to write about it because it is an attack on our national security.”

“Water pollution is a national security issue. These people leave cyanide and mercury in the soil and it could create a health problem. People can get cancer and all kinds of lung diseases, and yet we do not have the health facilities to take care of them,” the Okyenhene added.

AIDS & malaria

Apart from the environmental consequences, there are social effects that have largely been left out of the discourse.

Osagyefo Ofori Panin said apart from mercury poisoning, the threat of HIV and AIDS was rearing its ugly head, together with malaria, in illegal mining communities.

“Vast stretches of our land have become convenient breeding grounds for mosquitoes due to stagnant water collected in abandoned gaping holes resulting from galamsey operations. Malaria is now the number one cause of infant mortality.

Destroying families

“Our people are exposed to social and ethnic class distinctions not previously encountered. There is also the weakening of traditional family relations, with a devastating effect on the education of our children. School dropout rate has quadrupled and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results have gone from bad to worse.

“We cannot forget the negative consequences of galamsey on more sustainable forms of economic activities such as agriculture, forestry, tourism, water and fish resources and consequently the livelihood of ecologically dependent communities,” he lamented.

On the Chinese invasion of the country’s mining communities, the Okyenhene said it was a matter of law enforcement and called on the security agencies to deal with the crisis.
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Source: Graphic Online

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