The Chiefs and Elders of the Akyem Kotoku State have called on President Akufo-Addo to, as a matter of urgency, dismiss the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Hon Mr Raymond Nana Damptey.
Hon Mr Raymond Nana Damptey is the Birim North DCE.
The Chiefs and Elders made the call at a gathering at the Kotoku Palace at Akim Oda on Wednesday 22 May 2024 during a Press Conference.
The Chiefs and Elders of the Akyem Kotoku State were clad in black cloths, looked pensive, serious and moody.
One could easily perceive that a matter of grave concern to the Akyem Kotoku State was to be addressed.
Nana Akwasi Amo Kyeretwie I, Abiremhene and Gyasehene of the Akyem Kotoku State welcomed the gathering and later called on Nana Asiedu Akora Ntronanghene to brief the press on illegal mining operations in the Ntronang enclave.
Addressing the media, Nana Asiedu Akora mourned the alarming rate of environmental degradation occasioned by several alleged Galamsey operations being carried out by Hon Mr Raymond Nana Damptey, the Birim North DCE, particularly in the Ntronang enclave and other Kotoku towns in the Birim North District.
In adducing evidence of Hon. Damptey’s involvement in Galamsey, they presented stacks of sheets of one of the Galamsey sites of the Hon Damptey, printed in bright colors, on the Ntronang-Abirem road stretch were circulated for Chiefs, Elders and the public to see and evaluate Damptey’s illegal mining business.
Nana Asiedu Akora,Ntronanghene, stressed: “The DCE is still doing Galamsey operations as I speak. He has several hundreds of workers at various sites in the Ntronang enclave and his activities are causing a great damage to rivers and lands”.
The Ntronanghene recalled:”…at a recent function in Ntronang, the youth almost lunged towards Hon Damptey for destroying rivers in the enclave. The presence of police saved the day; it would have been bloody”.
What infuriated the Chiefs and Elders of the Akyem Kotoku State was when Nana Asiedu Akora hinted: “Hon Damptey doesn’t respect Traditional Authority and every attempt to whip him in line has failed. He doesn’t listen to calls by Ntronang residents to stop the environmental degradation.”
Nana Amo Kyeretwie I Abiremhene and Gyasehene of the Kotoku State, further highlighted instances Hon Damptey snubbed the Chiefs and Elders of the Kotoku State: “Every verbal and written invitations aimed at bringing Hon. Mr Raymond Nana Damptey to meet Chiefs and Elders of our State to discuss reports of his enterprises were refused, ignored and disregarded.”
These allegations of gross disrespect for the Chiefs and Elders of the Akyem Kotoku State and Damptey’s alleged galamsey operations stirred paroxysm of anger.
Chiefs and Elders rose from their seats midway into the press conference and began chanting songs of war demanding that President Nana Akufo-Addo remove Hon. Mr Raymond Nana Damptey as DCE for Birim North District for his involvement in Galamsey operations.
The Chiefs and Elders threatened to turn their backs on NPP and President Akufo-Addo should he fail to remove Hon Damptey.
DCE REACTS, THREATENS LAWSUIT
When the Daily Searchlight contacted Hon. Raymond Nana Damptey, he said that he has heard about the press conference but had no details.
He denied any suggestion that he was involved in illegal mining.
He said that the chiefs are after his hide because of his uncompromising attitude.
“They have been chasing me to ensure I am sacked. It is nothing to me, I don’t care, I wanted to respond, but my lawyer says I shouldn’t respond to it, we want what they are saying to be published so I can take them on, sue them for defamation,” he said.
He denied claims that they invited me to discuss the issue.
“It was only on Saturday that one invited me but I was on my way to visit my hometown to celebrate Akwasidae. It is all lies, they don’t want development,” he said.
He said that the district was thirty-six years old but had only three DCEs who have survived to a term of four years, with all experiencing very short terms.
“It is only me who has been here for seven years going for my eight year, because I don’t compromise they are not happy with me,” he said.
Asked about the land degradation at Ntronang arising out of mining activities, he said that the twon was in his district, but what was happening there was not galamsey, but community mining.
“There is community mining ongoing over there. The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Asumah Kyeremeh came to commission it at Ntronang. That is where they have taken the pictures and tagged it that I am doing galamsey,” he said.
Asked if he has any part to play in that exercise, he explained that once it is community mining the district chief executive is in charge of it.
“It is not me but it is a government project, and any government project the district chief executive is in charge of it,” he said.
