Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II, who heads the National House of Chiefs, has said members of both the NDC and the NPP are involved in galamsey, and told the two parties to stop politicising the fight against it.

He also accused some district chief executives of taking part, and warned them not to blame chiefs alone for releasing land to illegal miners.

The Sefwi Anhwiaso paramount chief was addressing Regional Ministers and MMDCEs at the first national conference for MMDCEs on illegal small-scale mining in Kumasi, which took place on Monday, November 2. President John Mahama had asked chiefs in October to back the crackdown.

'NDC people are doing illegal mining'
"I have lived under NPP, and galamsey was there. Especially a year or two before elections, they allowed their people to do mining," he said.

"Right now, it is the NDC government in power, and yes, NDC people are doing illegal mining, most of them."

He said leaders meeting on the problem should look for answers rather than score points. "We don't want a situation where, when we meet, instead of finding solutions to these issues, we try to politicise them," he said.

Turning to the district chief executives in the hall, he added: "Some of you are involved in the Galamsey business. Just as some Nananom are also involved."

He named no individual. No response from either party had been reported by Wednesday afternoon.

Ayariga: officials who look away will be sanctioned
Local Government Minister Mahama Ayariga, whose ministry convened the conference, told the same audience that officials who tolerate illegal mining are part of the problem.

"You can be part of the problem because you have seen people actively mining and you have looked the other way round," he said.

He warned that Regional Ministers and MMDCEs who tolerate illegal mining in their areas would face sanctions for the damage it causes.

"The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources does not sleep in our districts," he said, refusing to let the Lands Minister carry the blame alone.

Lands Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who in a separate address challenged KNUST students to lead the fight, said the battle could not be won by his ministry or the security agencies alone.

He wants assemblies to support NAIMOS, the national anti-illegal mining secretariat, with intelligence from communities, logistics and engagement with residents.

He also wants assemblies to connect prospective miners with regulators and explain approved routes such as cooperative mining.

Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Frank Amoakohene objected to security operations being carried out in districts without the knowledge of the MMDCEs. He called for proper communication channels with local authorities.

Ogyeahoho Yaw Gyebi II blamed much of the problem on land being handed out for mining without regulation.

Whenever land is released for mining, he said, every statutory procedure and document must be completed so that operations are lawful.

He asked security agencies to work more closely with traditional authorities on local conflicts in mining communities, which he said impose avoidable costs on the state.

He also cautioned against trading the country's vegetation for short-term economic gain.

In August last year he called for every chief and politician involved in illegal mining to be named and shamed.

Among political figures convicted over illegal mining is NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi. He was jailed for 20 years in July for illegal mining at Samreboi and is appealing.

The High Court was due to rule on Wednesday, November 4, on his application for bail pending appeal. No outcome had been reported by Wednesday afternoon.