Aowin Traditional Council performs rituals to ward off illegal miners

The Aowin Traditional Council, with support from fetish priests and priestesses, has conducted rituals and spiritual ceremonies to warn illegal miners and promote environmental sustainability in the mining sector.

To protect its natural resources, the Council has implemented a new policy requiring licensed small-scale miners to submit documentation from the Minerals Commission, confirming their operational authorization and sign a commitment to safeguard the area’s water bodies and forest reserves.

Illegal mining, known locally as galamsey, has been causing widespread destruction in Ghana, with the Aowin traditional area being particularly hard hit. Despite ongoing efforts to address the issue, the problem persists, resulting in the devastating degradation of water sources and forest reserves.

Addressing a news conference on January 3, 2025 the Chief of Nkwanta Nana Ntow III emphasized the importance of heeding warnings from spiritual advisors. He reiterated the role of traditional leaders as custodians of the land, responsible for preserving natural resources and cultural heritage for future generations.

“We therefore take direct responsibility for the management of our natural resources and heritage. Our people will be the first line to suffer the negative consequences of illegal mining on our land.”

“For this reason and more, it will be wrongful on our part, and we will be blamed by the living, our ancestors and posterity, if we sit aloof to allow the rot of illegal mining to get out of hands as it almost is currently.” Nana Ntow III, Chief of Nkwanta mentioned

On January 1, 2025, the Aowin Traditional Council, along with fetish priests and priestesses, conducted rituals, poured libations, and recited incantations to appease the gods.

To reinforce this spiritual intervention, the Council has introduced the following measures that Small-scale miners must submit their authorization documents for verification and Verified miners will be required to sign a commitment to protect the region’s water bodies and forest reserves.

“If any of them should ever dare to go against the undertaking, not only shall we resort to prosecuting them, but they would equally bear the consequences and wrath of the gods. Please, be warned accordingly.”

“Furthermore, miners who over the years failed to reclaim mined areas on hearing this notice, should avail themselves to the palace for the necessary corrections to be done.”

“We remain the bona-fide custodians of all Stool Lands in Aowin Traditional Area, and that no mining activities would be allowed without our authorisation.” He warned.

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