The Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, said on Thursday that illegal small-scale mining, locally known as galamsey, has declined since President John Dramani Mahama took office.

He has however cautioned that the practice continues to endanger water bodies and farmlands.

The traditional ruler, who was sworn in as a Justice of the Court of Appeal alongside 20 others, told reporters in Accra that tighter enforcement and local initiatives had curbed the activities of illegal miners who previously operated with little resistance.

“I have been on this stool for almost 26 and a half years. Galamsey did not start yesterday; it has been with us for some time. But now it is going down,” he said.

Badu credited new security measures, including the introduction of “blue waterguards,” for protecting forest reserves that were previously overrun by miners.

“Before this regime came, nine forest reserves had been taken over. Now that situation has been curbed,” he added.

He stressed, however, that the problem has not been eradicated. “I wouldn’t stand here and say galamsey is gone; it is still with us. We should ensure that we nip this situation in the bud,” he said.

The Dormaahene vowed to enforce a zero-tolerance policy in his area, warning that he would personally arrest offenders and hand them over to police. He appealed to citizens to help preserve the country’s natural resources.

“This is the only thing our ancestors left for us, so we don’t have to destroy our water bodies and cocoa farms. We must farm the right way so we can all be happy,” he said.