The Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II, has given the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government a one-month ultimatum to stop the menace of illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, across the country.

Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II, who is also the President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs, speaking during a courtesy call by former President John Dramani Mahama as part of his campaign tour of the region, was puzzled by the fact that the menace is becoming pervasive despite the resources at the disposal of the state, including the Ghana Armed Forces.

He warned that if the government fails to stop galamsey in one month, he would rally chiefs across the country to take back their lands and mineral consignments.

“We are giving the current government one month; we are giving the current government one month to send the police and the military to the forests to stop galamsey. If they don’t stop it, the land belongs to us the chiefs, we will take back our land and keep our gold to ourselves.

“If there is going to be any mining, we are going to do it ourselves. Because we know the land belongs to us, we live with our subjects and our forests are being destroyed, our farms are being destroyed and so are our water bodies,” the Dormaahene fumed in Twi.

The paramount chief also told former President Mahama, the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), that if he also fails to curb galamsey when he comes to power, he would equally rally the chiefs against him.

“Your Excellency, it is a privilege we give you to manage our lands but if you fail, we the chiefs will rise. If no chief does, I would personally go to the National House of Chiefs to rally the chiefs to take back our gold. And I would like to see the people who would come and arrest us as well as the court who would hear the matter,” he added.