Three chiefs allegedly enabling illegal mining in their communities within the Ashanti region have been dethroned by monarch Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The disgraced traditional leaders are the Gyasehene of Sabronum, Nana Gyau Baffour Atuonin along with the Akyeamehene and the Baamuhene.

They were punished by the Asante overlord following agitations by the youth and the tabling of a petition against them at the Manhyia palace.

The youth expressed anger at the failure of the three traditional leaders to stop the destruction of their farmlands, forests and water bodies by galamseyers.

The ‘galamsey trio’ were invited by the monarch over the matter and subsequently punished.

Speaking at the launch of the 2023 edition of the Green Ghana Day in the Ashanti Region in mid-May that year, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II expressed his displeasure about how forest reserves and water bodies were being decimated by galamsey and warned to make an example of any of his sub-chiefs caught complicit in the crime.

“It is very sad that despite the several measures the government has been putting in place to curb this menace, illegal mining and illegal logging continue to pose a threat to our forests, which means the government cannot do it alone, and we must all help the government to help with these matters. My chiefs know that I have been speaking about this, and I am not happy with chiefs in Amansie areas where galamsey has taken over the land and I say to them if you sit there and say you are not aware, then I say you are not fit to be a chief.”

“These are matters we are going to take on again, and I don’t care whose gods it is because we have to enforce it and I have to start with my chiefs first and the government will do the other one to bring these matters to a closure. I am going to drive around those areas in the Amansie to Manso Nkwanta areas to see what is happening there and if I finish with that, all the chiefs will have to tell us why that has to happen.”