Angry Okyenhene destools Benkumhene over illegal mining, says ‘I hate it’
The Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin has ordered that the Benkumhene of Asamang Tamfoe Nana Boakye Darkwa be removed from his position as chief of his people because he was involved in illegal mining.
The overlord of the Akyem Abuakwa gave the order after a group of local people called Concerned Citizens of Asamang Tamfoe sent a petition to the Akyem Abuakwa judicial council on November 9, 2022.
The group said that the traditional leader was doing illegal mining, which polluted rivers, destroyed farmland, and put the food security and way of life of smallholder farmers in danger.
“People of foreign descent have been given permission to mine illegally, and they are doing this with the help of the chief of the town and the sub-chiefs. This is dangerous because the Tamfoe river is the only portable source of good drinking water. Some of the mining sites are so close to the riverbed that they hurt and bother the people who live there.
“There are rumors that the chief Nana Kwame Koh II is one of the illegal miners, and on October 19, 2022, 5 excavators were seized by more than 25 soldiers during an operation. “According to the petition, one of the excavators belongs to the chief.”
The petition was sent in a few weeks after illegal miners in Asamang Tamfoe got into a fight with the Okyeman Environmental Taskforce over galamsey activities in the area, which led to gunfire in the streets.
Later, on October 6, 2022, the Benkumhene called the Okyeman Environmental taskforce led by Chief of Akyem Apapam, Osabarima Apagya Ofori IV’s bluff at a press conference. He said that he would fight them violently if they came back to the community.
The Akyem Abuakwa Judicial Council then asked the Chief of Asamang-Tamfoe Osabarima Kwame Koh II and the Benkumhene Nana Boakye Darkwa to come to a hearing on November 21, 2022, according to a news website.
After being asked some tough questions, the Benkumhene admitted he was wrong and lied to the Okyenhene and the Akyem Abuakwa traditional council to say he was sorry for what he had done.
But his show of regret didn’t clear him of all blame. He was fired by order of the Okyenhene, who was the head of the Akyem Abuakwa Judicial Council.
“Are you happy about the damage being done to land and water at Asamang-Tamfoe?” From what starrfm.com.gh says, the Okyenhene asked the Benkumhene. “You did something wrong, and Okyenhene called you, but you didn’t come. Because of galamsey, all of our water sources have been destroyed, even in Kyebi. Like Tamfoe, I don’t like mining, and I don’t want to do it.
“I tell the Benkumhene that he can no longer be the Benkumhene because he has ignored the orders I gave to the task force to protect the Akyem lands from any illegal mining.”
The Okyenhene has said many times that he is against galamsey, which is another name for illegal mining, and that he will not let it happen in his area.
Galamsey, which both locals and foreigners are guilty of, has destroyed Ghana’s waterways, farmlands, and forest reserves, among other things.
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