Accra: A group of illegal miners in Konongo in the Ashanti Region incurred the wrath of local chiefs after they stormed active galamsey sites to invoke curses on those engaged in the illegal mining activities. A video sighted by GhanaWeb shows chiefs and elders confronting illegal miners at active galamsey sites over the destruction of the environment and water bodies in the community.
According to Ghana Web, the chiefs, who were carrying crates of eggs and bottles of local gin (schnapps), said they had come to perform traditional rituals on the land. They stated that although they would not force the miners to leave the sites, the rituals would deal with anyone who continued the illegal mining activities.
'We have been appealing to you guys to stop the illegal mining activities because it is destroying the waterbodies in Konongo, but to no avail. We took the issue to our deities, and they have directed us to perform rituals on the waterbodies, and this ritual will definitely result in death,' one of the chiefs said in Twi. 'After the rituals, we won't sack you but if you guys continue with your illegal activities, you will have yourselves to blame. Whatever happens to you too, no one should step foot at the palace to come and inform us.'
The chiefs then went ahead to pour libation and invoke their curses on the illegal miners.