The chief of Akwamu Adumasa says some chiefs have failed the nation in the fight against illegal mining activities in the country. 

Nana Ansah Kwao IV said the chiefs have a major role in this fight since illegal activities are done on their lands. 

According to him, some of his colleagues have "failed woefully in the discharge of their mandate in this regard." 

He said chiefs should be concerned about the alarming impact of the menace, especially with the devasting impact on the environment. 

Contributing to a panel discussion on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, he asked his colleagues to be up to the task. 

“We have let the side down. There are some chiefs when you say culture, they limit it to drumming and dancing. When the President is coming, they play kete for five minutes and that is culture and they are done.

“There is no way a chief should be driving in town and you look at your left, there is an excavator digging, you look at your right, the same thing is happening and you don’t take any action against them,” he said. 

The government’s fight against illegal mining has hit a snag despite the introduction of military-led interventions such as Operation Vanguard, Galamstop and Operation Halt.

A recent Joynews Hotline Documentary, “Destruction for Gold”, shed light on the destruction of farmlands, forest reserves and water bodies by illegal mining operations.