Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia promised that, if elected president, he would establish an all-inclusive government with a strong focus on empowering traditional leaders to combat illegal mining.

This commitment came as part of his 15-day tour as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, which reached its fourth day in the Kwabre East Constituency.

In a stakeholder meeting with local chiefs and traditional leaders, Dr. Bawumia highlighted the critical role traditional leaders could play in the fight against illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.

He acknowledged the ongoing challenges the country faces due to galamsey and stressed the need for an approach that would involve not only government agencies but also local leadership to effectively address the issue.

“The fight against illegal mining requires everyone’s involvement, especially our traditional leaders who understand the impact on their communities,” Dr. Bawumia noted.

Dr. Bawumia emphasized his intention to revise the laws to include chiefs in the governance structure, stating, “We have neglected chiefs in our governance system since 1957, but you’re custodians of the lands. I am coming to change the law to include you in our governance structure. We are coming to grant licenses for mining, and that must have chiefs included.”

He added, “I want to change the law, Section 63 of the Chieftaincy Act. We are giving more powers to the chiefs to help us in the management and the governance of our country.”

The Vice President pledged that, under his leadership, traditional leaders would be empowered and given a voice in the decision-making process regarding natural resources and environmental protection.