Source: Lands Ministry
Following stories of steady unlawful mining actions in some mining Regions and Districts of the nation, authorities by means of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources have taken the stands to hitch forces and empower all stakeholders, to be up and doing within the fight in opposition to unlawful mining notably within the river our bodies and forest reserves.
In a hearty tackle to the Eastern Regional Security Council, (REGSEC), MMDAs and the 15 District Mining Committees on Thursday, twenty fifth August, 2022, Hon. George Mireku Duker, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, chargeable for Mines mentioned it has turn out to be crucial to contain all, expecially conventional leaders within the battle in opposition to unlawful mining as not a lot outcomes have been realised from the District Mining Committees inaugurated to make sure accountable mining within the nation.
Hon. Duker submitted to the stakeholders that the onus lies not solely on central authorities however on them whilst people to guard the waterbodies and assist save Ghana’s future for posterity. “If you protect the rivers in your community, you are not doing it for goverment but for yourselves, your children and Ghana’s future and so let’s be emotional about this and solve this challenge dispassionately”
He employed the normal leaders, notably the overloads, to be strict and make sure that thier subchiefs abide by the legal guidelines, insisting that those that don’t go by the legal guidelines be destooled if mandatory, to encourage vigilance and fixed monitoring on the rivers that runs by means of their Lands.
The Deputy Mines Minister additionally cautioned the Chiefs to not enable foreigners, notably from the neighbouring international locations like Burkina Faso and Cote D’ivore to invade their communities and mine within the rivers, including that they need to make sure that all who interact in mining of their communities train due diligence. “among all others ensure that concessions under your jurisdiction are a 100 meters area from the rivers just as the law stipulates” He added.
Hon. Duker burdened emphatically that because the regulation permits for citizen arrests, authorities will quickly make sure that onlookers in mining communities, no matter positions will likely be arrested for sitting nonetheless and permitting such atrocities to occur underneath their watch.
He outlined plenty of efforts authorities has put in place within the mild of the fight saying “in the bid to end this canker, government has provided mercury-free mining equipment, 5 speed boats with navy personnel to constantly patrol the rivers, tracking devices with a control room to track excavators and other moving equipments are also in place, operation Halt II is also being strictly enforced, among many other strategies government is embarking on to rid the country of this canker”.
He referred to as for a unified and strengthened effort to handle this problem, stressing that political affiliations shouldn’t be thought-about within the efforts “Let’s rid this combat of any political colorization and protect our waterbodies with passion”
He then charged the MMDAs and safety businesses to arrest miners or mining firms that make the most of Community Mining Schemes (CMS) to mine in communities which have the CMS inaugurated and operationalized.
Addressing some considerations raised by among the MMDAs and Chiefs, the Deputy Minister accountable for Mines assured the leaders that each one their grievance have been duly famous and steps will likely be taken to mitigate them, whereas interesting for continued help and confidence in authorities.
Hon. Duker in his tackle counseled the stakeholders for his or her efforts and help up to now, noting that authorities will recognise and award those that interact in mining the correct manner. “Government is not against mining and I can’t emphasize this enough and because of this we have instituted the Small Scale Mining Awards to endorse and encourage those who mine the right way and this year, somewhere in November we will do this again”
Hon. George Mireku Duker nevertheless warned that authorities is not going to relent in it’s efforts to go in opposition to the perpetuators strongly “We are deeply saddened by this sudden surge but I must ensure you that government will go against these perpetuators strongly and without mercy”
The Eastern Regional Minister, Hon. Seth Acheampong in his welcome tackle defined the far reaching and devastating affect of unlawful mining on the very lives of the residents and on the socio-economic actions of the nation.
Hon. Seth Acheampong advised the gathering that if care isn’t taken, Ghana will quickly lose it relevance within the subject of commerce as the usage of mercury within the riverbodies affect on numerous meals, mentioning cocoa for example.
Most individuals steered that recalcitrants who’re prosecuted are made to remain in jail with out interference, which they believed would function a superb deterant to perpetuators.
The conventional leaders on the all essential assembly additionally requested that the police and the safety companies help them of their efforts by guaranteeing thier safety as most of them obtain demise threats from these unlawful miners.