The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources chargeable for Mines, Hon. George Mireku Duker has expressed optimism that Ghana’s waterbodies which have been polluted by unlawful mining actions may regain their misplaced purity standing by March 2023 if we’re all dedicated to the combat towards unlawful Mining.
Hon. Mireku Duker is reassured and inspired by the truth that the measures launched by authorities are already yielding outcomes and that if the pattern is sustained by the primary quarter of 2023, there’ll be a drastic enchancment within the high quality of the water our bodies.
He famous that the coaching of river wardens, who will praise the Operation Halt II taskforce is one other laudable initiative by authorities in the direction of the liberation of waterbodies from galamsey operations.
Speaking at a Community Sensitization on Illegal Mining in Tarkwa on Thursday, October 27, 2022, Hon. Mireku Duker averred that the introduction of digital improvements comparable to registering and monitoring of all earth transferring gear within the nation in addition to the Community Mining Scheme will assure success for presidency in its combat towards unlawful mining.
He, nevertheless asserted that the improvements and efforts by authorities is not going to see the sunshine of day if conventional authorities and residents of mining communities don’t be part of within the combat towards unlawful mining.
He, subsequently threw a challenge to the chiefs and residents of Tarkwa and its environs to prolong serving to arms to authorities purge the Bonsa River of the air pollution from galamsey operations.
Hon. Mireku Duker appealed through the engagement at Tarkwa that if the residents cooperate with the federal government, he’s sure with none sense of ambiguity that by March 2023, the Bonsa River passes by way of the neighborhood would be pure and protected.
He cautioned the mining communities that authorities which has demonstrated sturdy dedication to defending authorized small-scale mining companies would be left with no possibility to heed to the decision of those that are asking for a ban on small scale mining if it doesn’t benefit from the collaborative efforts of the indigenes of the communities.
“There are suggestions for government to close down small-scale mining activities but we are aware of the number of job opportunities created in the small-scale mining sector. The Bonsa River has been destroyed. 100 years ago, they mined gold here in Tarkwa but the river was clear so how have we allowed greed to make us destroy our river”, he stated.
“Because myself, my Minister Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor believes in small-scale mining, we’ve the blessings of President Akufo-Addo to promote mining however in a really sustainable and accountable approach. If you don’t need authorities to ban small-scale mining, all of you gathered right here should assist clean the Bonsa River. The chiefs, small-scale miners and everybody right here has a job to play to defend the Bonsa River. The Small-scale miners have assured the MCE throughout a gathering that by the top of December, the Bonsa would have cleared.
“The leadership of the small-scale miners in Accra have also assured us of their support to ensure that the Birim River in the Eastern region is cleared. It is the responsibility of everyone to fight illegal mining. Government alone cannot fight illegal mining, we need your collaboration. Government has recruited river wardens whose job is to provide constant patrol of the Pra, Tano, Bonsa, Ankobrah, among others. They’ve been given speedboats to do their job. The riverguards have uniforms stuffed with body cameras and their movements will be monitored,” he stated.
The MCE for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Benjamin Kesse stated the folks of Tarkwa-Nsuaem is not going to sit down aloof and watch others destroy their livelihoods. He assured that they may present intelligence to the safety authorities about galamsey operators.
Nana Adakwa Bediako III, Dzasehene of Apinto recommended the federal government for the Community Mining scheme within the space, revealing that many lives have been impacted positively by the revolutionary mining scheme. He promised that his neighborhood is not going to permit galamsey operators create a foul identify for them.