Bono chiefs pledge to support regional minister deal with galamsey

The President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs (BRHC), Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, has pledged the support of the house to efforts by the Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa, to halt illegal mining popularly known as "galamsey" in the region.

He said the house shared the same vision with the minister on the galamsey fight, explaining that the menace was destroying water bodies and other natural resources.

Osagyefo Agyemang Badu, who is also the Dormaahene, was speaking during the general meeting of the house in Sunyani last Friday.

Members of the house brainstormed ways to address some challenges such as unemployment, poor road infrastructure and chieftaincy disputes confronting the region.

Osagyefo Agyemang Badu said some chiefs in the country were actively involved in galamsey activities, explaining that their involvement in the galamsey activity made it difficult for the government to stop the menace.

He therefore, urged the minister, "In our region, if you find out that a chief, including me (Osagyefo Agyemang Badu II) is involved in galamsey, be bold to stop me.

"We will support you to succeed. Our doors are always open for you to consult us on matters beyond your office. If you continue to do that, you will succeed," he said.

Challenges

He said the region was grappling with several challenges which were frustrating the chiefs and people.

Osagyefo Agyemang Badu also expressed concern about the lack of employment among the youth and deplorable road networks in the region.

He mentioned the Berekum-Sampa Road, the Fiapre-Sunyani Airport Road, the Sunyani-Baakodiaba Road, the Sunyani-Techimam Highway, the Sunyani-Wenchi Road, the Wenchi-Wa Highway and the Wenchi-Badu Road among other economic roads which needed attention.

Osagyefo Agyemang Badu, therefore, called on him to lobby for the construction and rehabilitation of the region's road network and put measures in place to resolve youth unemployment.

Chieftaincy disputes

He said the region was confronted with several chieftaincy disputes which threatened the peace and development of the region and mentioned Sunyani, Nsoatre, Berekum, Sampa and Badu as some of the traditional areas bedevilled with disputes.

Osagyefo Agyemang Badu said the most worrying was the Sunyani chieftaincy dispute because the town was the regional capital.

He urged the house and the minister to collaborate to find holistic solutions to the disputes to enhance the development of the region.

He said this year's “Meko Bono” (I will go to Bono) festival, would be held at Odumase and urged the house to prepare ahead of the festival.

It is a festival instituted by some youth in the Bono and Bono East regions to tell the rich history of the Bonos and showcase the rich culture and tourism potentials in the regions.

Commitment

The Regional Minister, Mr Akwaboa, who was in the house to engage members, assured the house of President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to construct and rehabilitate deplorable roads in the region before the end of his tenure of office.

He said the chiefs and people of the region would soon see contractors on some of the roads.

Mr Akwaboa said the government had outlined several employment interventions and programmes to be implemented to create employment for the youth.

He promised to work with the chiefs to resolve the chieftaincy disputes and intervene to lift curfews imposed in some areas to revive socio-economic activities.

During an open forum, some chiefs advised the minister to uphold discipline and integrity in his leadership.

They urged the minister to take firm action against those engaged in galamsey, including traditional leaders.

Writer's email: biiya.ali@graphic.com.gh