President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asked Ghanaians to desist from politicising the fight against galamsey in the country.

He said the galamsey menace was purely a national issue which should be collectively addressed to preserve the country's natural resources, particularly water bodies and forests for future generations.

This was contained in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, at a grand durbar of the chiefs and people of Akuapem to mark this year’s Odwira Festival at Akropong, the traditional headquarters, last Friday.

The Odwira Festival which is celebrated annually in either September or October by the people of Akuapems is a purification event to mark the victory of Akuapems in the battle of Dodowa Forest in 1826.

The colourful ceremony, characterised with traditional drumming and dancing, firing of muskets and blowing of horns, and riding in palanquins to portray the rich Akuapem culture, was on the theme: "Sustainable Development Through Patronage of Eco-Tourism and Environmental Health".

It was attended by all the divisional and sub-chiefs, queenmothers, hundreds of Akuapem indigenes, both home and abroad, the Director of National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, some government officials, including municipal and district chief executives (MDCEs) in the Akuapem enclave.

The Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo III, who was splendidly dressed in royal costume, sat majestically in state as his sub-chiefs and dignitaries paid homage to him.

According to the President, the government started fighting the illegal miners over seven years ago and had recently ignited the fight to totally flush them out from the water bodies, farmlands and forest reserves.

Galamsey politics

The galamsey menace, Nana Akufo-Addo stated, could not be effectively tackled by the government alone, for which reason the issue must not be politicised.

Such bold steps being taken by the government, the President said, should rather be supported by all, particularly traditional rulers instead of some few Ghanaians giving the fight political colouration.

"This is not the time to give the galamsey fight a political colour to portray that my administration is not handling the issue well, which is wrong because we are doing the best to control the situation and light will be at the end of the tunnel as soon as possible.

All hands on deck

"All hands must be on deck to fight against illegal miners, government alone cannot fight the menace.

"The fight against galamsey is very dear to my heart and I will make sure that the polluted rivers regain their cleanliness and the ecology of destroyed farmlands and forests reserves restored to enable them continue to produce food and other natural resources."

"The galamsey fight is not for the government alone and it must not be politicised because it is a national issue which my government started fighting and we need all Ghanaians, especially from Nananom, who are custodians of the lands, to help make our rivers and water bodies clean for human consumption.

"It is in this direction that the environment will be preserved for our children and future generations so I want all of you, particularly chiefs, to actively get involved in flushing out the illegal miners", President Nana Akufo-Addo told the gathering.

Traditional rulers, the President indicated, also had a vital role to play in getting rid of the illegal miners. They must therefore support the government in that respect.

Economy

With regard to the economy, the President said although it faced challenges, it was now improving and that the government would continue to do its best in the interest of the people.

Chieftaincy dispute

Talking about the Akuapem chieftaincy issue, he called on the chiefs to unite for the development of the area since unity was the only way to accelerate development programmes for the well-being of the people.

Nana Akufo-Addo told the gathering that resolving chieftaincy issues was a gradual process. In the light of that, he expressed the hope that by next year all issues regarding chieftaincy in the area would be peacefully addressed.

Peaceful elections

He urged Nananom to talk about peaceful elections before, during and after the polls with their people in their respective traditional areas to make this year’s elections very peaceful.

The Okuapehene, Oseadeeyo Kwasi Akuffo, appealed to Ghanaians to go to their various polling stations and vote peacefully.

He thanked his people for their support in making the Odwira Festival celebrations grand and successful .