Bobby Banson, a lecturer at the Ghana School of Law and private legal practitioner, has urged traditional rulers to take up the fight against illegal mining and arrest those involved in it.

According to him, the state has, over the years, failed to end the menace, however, he has faith in the traditional rulers and believes they can help stop the practice.

He therefore urged chiefs to mobilise their subjects and arrest anyone found engaging in illegal mining, as the law permits citizens to make arrests in such cases.

"It is not enough to sit in front of the TV, hold press conferences, or tell your people that the law prohibits this. The law, specifically Section 8 of the Criminal Procedure Code, allows citizens to arrest those caught in the act of committing an offence. Organise your people and arrest these individuals – you outnumber them," he said on JoyNews' Newsfile on Saturday, 1st February.

He added that traditional rulers should be empowered to combat the menace, stating, "Why can't the chiefs be empowered or feel empowered? They were not voted into office, and I’m not saying the State has no role. But we have relied on the State for far too long, and we are seeing no results. So, why can't the chiefs assume this role?"

The fight against galamsey in the country has proven difficult, as it appears that numerous initiatives implemented by the previous government to end the practice have yielded no results.

In many cases, the practice is linked to politically exposed persons, politicians, or influential figures in the country. As a result, efforts to tackle the menace have often produced little success, as the perpetrators use their influence to escape accountability for the crime.

He Bobby Banson said the chiefs have demonstrated enough that they have the authority to combat the menace, citing the case of Osagyefo Agyemang Badu I, who has successfully 'outlawed' galamsey in his domain, others whose instruction have been obeyed to the letter, with nobody daring to challenge them.