The International Peace Ambassador, Togbui Gobah Tengey Sedoh, has added to the calls for a ban on illegal mining activities, commonly referred to as galamsey, demanding that a reclamation fund be established to help in efforts to reclaim degraded lands and forest reserves.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s ‘I Stand Against Galamsey’ campaign on Monday, September 16, Togbui Gobah Tengey Sedoh, suggested that the reclamation fund be established by the Bank of Ghana and managed by a committee to be set up by the National House of Chiefs.

“We appeal to the authorities to declare a state of emergency to tackle the illegal mining once and for all and as part of the solutions, we call for the establishment of a reclamation fund at the Bank of Ghana to be managed by a committee of the House of Chiefs involving all the Regional House of Chiefs with the Asantehene as the patron.

“The purpose of the fund is to reclaim the degraded lands and forest reserves by planting trees in the affected areas of the country. The seized equipment should be used in another way by carting sand from the see to fill the degraded lands.”

The International Peace Ambassador further suggested churches and other organisations make voluntary donations to the recalamination fund.

“As part of the solution, we are of the opinion that all churches and other institutions should voluntarily contribute from every Sunday, from their offertory, into the reclamation fund.”