The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has destooled three chiefs in the Ashanti Region for their involvement in illegal mining (galamsey). The thr
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has destooled three chiefs in the Ashanti Region for their involvement in illegal mining (galamsey).
The three chiefs — Gyaasehene of Sabronum, Nana Awua Gyau Atuomi; Sabronum’s Akyeamehene and the Baamuhene — have been banned from performing any traditional mandate on behalf of the Asantehene, who is the Overlord of the Asante Kingdom.
The Asantehene subsequently appointed the Akwamuhene of Sabronum as the interim caretaker of the area to supervise the election of a new candidate, Kofi Asante, as part of the process to enstool a new chief in the area.
BNI report
“I gave the town to you; you could not take care of it. I’ve long been following up on this matter. This is also the report from the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), your names are clearly mentioned here in this report,” the Asantehene told the Gyaasehene and the two others in their faces when they attended upon the summon of the Asanteman Council at the Manhyia Palace last Monday.
“If I still keep you in charge, you will destroy my communities and ruin the lives of our people. If it is the DCE who could not boldly call you to order, I have done that,” Otumfuo angrily said, and threatened to get them arrested if they went back to the community to carry themselves as traditional leaders and continue with their nefarious activities.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II shared his concerns and that of the people in the area, stressing that the illegal mining activities had destroyed water bodies and ruined the rich vegetation, and was now the bane of the people.
The town, which is currently without a Paramount Chief, had been given to this Gyaasehene as a caretaker chief to lead, but according to the King, these same leaders were rather leading the charge in the illegal mining activities.
He seized the opportunity to caution the other chiefs in Asanteman that he would do everything possible in his power to crack the whip anytime chiefs, who should know better, encouraged illegal mining activities in their traditional areas.
Accusations
The Asanteman Council accused the Gyaasehene of engaging in illegal mining and contributing to the destruction of the area’s sole drinking water source, River Asuonfou.
During the proceedings, the Gyaasehene denied the allegations, supported by testimonies from the Akyeamehene. However, other traditional authorities, including the Baamuhene, opposed him.
Testimonies revealed that many traditional leaders in the area were implicated in the illegal activities, with some receiving funds from miners.