Nobody Can Enter A Forest Or River Without A Chief’s Consent – Abu Jinapor Contradicts Otumfuor

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Abu Jinapor has contradicted the position of the Overlord of Asante, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II that government, through the MCEs and DCEs are to blame for the illegal mining that is destroying water bodies.

The Asantehene, speaking while receiving the new US ambassador at the Manhyia Palace suggested that government DCEs and MCEs in the various communities are to be blamed for mining activities as they head Security Operations and coordinate activities at that level.

However, Mr. Abu Jinapor while speaking at the 40th anniversary celebration of the faculty of renewable natural resources at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology disagreed with the King’s assertions.

Mr. Jinapor in his speech said, “I come from a palace and I can say without a shred of equivocation that in most cases, no one, and I repeat, no one can bring a chain saw to harvest in the forest or an excavator to mine in the bush or chanfang to work on a river body in a community without the knowledge, acquiescence or passive approval somehow of the Chief, elders, the assemblymen, opinion leaders and or local authorities in the community.”

“We have to begin to be blunt about this situation on our hands. It is the honest truth and, sadly for me, I am having to say it and do so publicly. Ladies and gentlemen, you may have heard that on Thursday 29th September 2022 on behalf of the president of the republic, I paid a working visit to our men and women in uniform-the operation halt two team in Manso Datano in the Amansie South District.” He continued.

“I was shocked by what I saw. Almost a whole community has been created in the heart of the forest with poultry and goat rearing, beds, a kitchen, and bathrooms among others. The devastation must have been occasioned by years, if not decades of destruction. The question I ask is, how could this have happened on the blind side of the Chief, elders, assemblymen, unit committee members, district police commander, district chief executive, district officers of the minerals commission, forestry commission, environmental protection agency and the members of the community? He asked.

“I do not seem to tarnish the reputation of any person or institution, but I dare say that even regional authorities may not be able to escape from this particular situation and feign ignorance of it,” he said.