Armah Kofi Buah, Lands and Natural Resources Minister
The Chiefs of Abosso and Bompieso Communities in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region have condemned the illegal mining activities on their lands.
In a press release issued and signed on Tuesday 5, August, 2025 by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Abosso Royal Palace and on behalf of Nana Kwasi Appiah II, the odikro of Abosso, the Chiefs are worried about the devastations carried out by galamseyers whom they alleged are being supported by the political actors in the constituency and the region.
According to the Chiefs, they will resist any attempt by any politician to promote galamsey on their land.
“We wish to use this medium to warn all politicians within and outside the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality who have taken it upon themselves to encourage any recalcitrant individuals or groups further encroaching on our lands, mainly to engage in illegal mining activities, to refrain from hiding behind them to support and perpetuate any form of further illegality on our lands as Nanaom will resist such advancement through the appropriate legal and lawful avenues” the statement said.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Abosso Royal Palace, Paa Baidoe, also confirmed that through initiative and support from the chiefs and elders, they were able to appeal to the appropriate bodies such as the Lands and Natural Resources Minister’s office to carry out a raid which was led by the NAIMOS and National Security.
“Nananom would like to reiterate that the raid being conducted is a collective effort and has our consent, as the traditional leadership of Abosso and Bompieso, who are committed to the safety and well-being of our citizens, and is devoid of any form of irresponsible mining activities. We uphold and believe in responsible mining, and that is what we are calling for, and not any act of indiscipline that leads to the destruction of our natural resources, which were handed over to us by our ancestors” the statement said.
The statement commended the Lands and Natural Resources Minister for his swift response to their call to clear all manner of illegal miners who are operating on their lands without any authorisation and called for responsible mining practices.
Below is the full statement..
Dated Tuesday 5, August 2025
For Immediate Release
ABOSSO, BOMPIESO CHIEFS ENDORSE GALAMSEY RAIDS BY SECURITY OPERATIVES- WARN POLITICIANS TO KEEP OFF OUR LANDS
We, the Chiefs and Elders of Abosso and Bompieso communities in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region, do hereby affirm and endorse the ongoing galamsey raids by the joint security led by the NAIMOS and the National Security, mainly to clear all unauthorised groups and individuals who have for some years encroached on our lands.
We are happy that the raid is taking place in our area and would like to commend and thank the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, the Interior Minister and the Defence Minister for adhering to our calls, which have led to this raid.
As traditional leaders and allodia owners of the lands in the area, which stretch from Abosso, Huniso and Bompieso, we do not know the activities of the illegal miners, also known as galamseyers, who have years being destroying our lands, farmlands and water bodies with impunity and ably supported by some section of the political actors, especially in government and in the municipality.
We wish to use this medium to warn all politicians within and outside the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality who have taken it upon themselves to encourage any recalcitrant individuals or groups further encroaching on our lands, mainly to engage in illegal mining activities, to refrain from hiding behind them to support and perpetuate any form of further illegality on our lands as Nanaom will resist such advancement through the appropriate legal and lawful avenues.
Nananom uphold and believe in responsible mining, and that is what we are calling for, and not any act of indiscipline that leads to the destruction of our natural resources, which were handed over to us by our ancestors.
As custodians, it is our collective decision and responsibility to protect our forest zones and water bodies.
Nananom would like to reiterate that the raid being conducted is a collective effort and has our consent, as the traditional leadership of Abosso and Bompieso, who are committed to the safety and well-being of our citizens, and is devoid of any form of irresponsible mining activities.
We, through this release, urge the security agencies responsible for the raid to continue their good work, which is aimed at protecting our forest that is currently under siege by both political, as Nananom are firmly behind them.
END
Signed
Paa Baidoo
PRO