The Divisional Chief of Nkroful in Ellembelle District of Western Region, Nana Kwasi Kutuah V has accused the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Ellembelle, Kwasi Bonzoh of doing illegal mining (galamsey activities) in the district.

Nkroful is the birthplace and hometown of the first president of the Republic of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and the place has been described as the galamsey zone in the Ellembelle district.

The main water body there has been polluted by some unscrupulous, irresponsible and nation wreckers through the activities of galamsey.

Addressing the media at Nkroful over the weekend, Nana Kwasi Kutuah V expressed his displeasure over the galamsey activities in his area.

He disclosed that his inability to stop the ongoing activities on his land was a result of the Ellembelle DCE's involvement.

According to the Chief, on October 21, 2024, the Ellembelle DCE held a press conference to tarnish the image of chiefs for doing galamsey on Nkroful Agricultural Senior High School's land.

He stated that the Ellembelle DCE peddled lies against them.

Setting the records straight, the Chief of Nkroful said it was the Ellembelle district assembly led by the DCE who has hired the CIC Impress Small Scale Mining company to reclaim the land behind the Nkroful Agricultural Senior High School.

"We, Nananom and the good people of Nkroful are gathered here to also express our outrage at the recent press conference held by the Hon DCE of Ellembelle district regarding illegal mining activities on NASS land. The Hon DCE Kwasi Bonzoh in his press conference held with the media on Monday, October 21, 2024, at Nkroful, claimed a letter written to him by the secretary of Nkroful traditional council requesting that the District Assembly engages CIC Impex Limited, a small-scale mining company, to desilt river Subri from Nkroful to Anwia and reclaim NASS land encouraged CIC Impex limited to mine on NASS land

The truth of the matter is that the desilting and reclamation of river Subri were approved by the Ellembelle District Assembly on February 13, 2024, in response to a clarion call by Nana Nkroful and his elders due to perennial flooding at Nkroful as a result of the activities of galamsey along the river Subri. The Ellembelle district assembly assigned Nkroful Small Scale Mining Association led by CIC Impex Mining Limited as the contractor to dredge and reclaim approximately 1.2 kilometres, starting from behind NASS wall and ending at around Kwame Nkrumah Museum", he stated.

According to the chief, the first phase of the reclamation and dredging was successfully completed by the CIC Impex.

The Chief also took the opportunity to rubbish the Ellembelle DCE's claim that the CIC Impex mining company was caught doing galamsey at the back of Nkroful Agricultural Senior High School.

However, the Nkroful Chief accused the Ellembelle DCE of doing galamsey in the Ellembelle district.

"Kwasi Bonzoh is claiming he is fighting against galamsey activities in Ellembelle district, this is a charade, the same DCE who claims he is fighting against galamsey activities in Ellembelle district brought an investor to my palace and said he was the Chairman of Ghana Small Scale Mining Association to go and do mining on my land at Pebulu and asked them of their document and they were unable to produce it and I didn't allow them to mine," he stated.

He continued, "The same DCE who claims he is protecting our lands in Ellembelle here, I see him as an Overlord of illegal mining in Ellembelle. He took two excavators to my land at Tandan to go and do galamsey there and I stopped them. The same DCE who claims to be fighting against galamsey, and one Wobedamu took excavators to mine on the river Broma and I stopped them, the same DCE and that man also went to do galamsey activities behind the Ellembelle district assembly and I stopped them"

He emphasised, "Kwasi Bonzoh as the Ellembelle DCE is deeply involved in the galamsey activities in Ellembelle and he can't run away from it so I can say that Kwasi Bonzoh is doing galamsey".

"Kwasi Bonzoh can't tarnish my image and my achievements as the Chief of Nkroful. I haven't done any galamsey activities on Nkroful land and I don't have authority over Anwia and Teleku Bokazo where the galamsey activities are ongoing.

Nana Kwasi Kutuah V took the opportunity to commend the CIC Impex mining company for dredging the river Subri at Nkroful to prevent flooding this year without charging them a penny.

He therefore pledged to engage his people to stop the galamsey activities in the area.

He also called on state security to support the fight against the ongoing galamsey activities in the Ellembelle district.

"All galamsey activities in the upstream of river Subri and Broma at Teleku Bokazo and Anwia must stop immediately by the Ellembell District Security Council (DISEC)," he warned.

Nana Kwasi Kutuah V provided letters written to the Ellembelle District Assembly as evidence to expose the Ellembelle DCE, Kwasi Bonzoh over the ongoing galamsey activities on NASS land.

Moreover, the Ellembelle DCE, Kwasi Bonzoh has debunked rumours in the area that he was doing galamsey.