Stop Demanding Boat Fees From Illegal Miners To Destroy River Bodies… Deputy Lands Minister To Chiefs.
The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of mining has made a very passionate appeal to traditional authorities within mining communities to desist from charging Boat Fees to illegal miners ( Galamseyers) to encourage them to mine illegally.
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Honourable George Mireku Duker who is also a member of parliament for Tarkwa – Nsuaem made this on Monday 18th March 2024 during a stakeholder’s presentation Engagement on Advancing Ghana’s Mining Policy Towards Sustainable Development.
Hon Mireku Duker noted that a delegation from Liberia has left Ghana after studying Ghana’s Small Scale Mining Scheme and they were highly impressed.
He noted that there is a need to add value to the small-scale mining industry as the government has done a lot in booming small-scale mining even though there is a need for more improvement.
The deputy lands and natural resources minister in charge of mining enumerated the various successes chalked by the government since its assumption of office in the year 2017 and introducing the Community Mining Scheme concept which has come to stay and has replaced the illegal mining activities which have over the years destroyed our forest reserves, pollution of river and water bodies and the environment as a whole.
Hon George Mireku Duker stressed that the introduction of the Small Scale Responsible Community Mining has gone a long way to impact positively on the lives of people living within the mining communities which solely depend on mining activities for their livelihood.
He further hinted that the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is not against mining but wants it to be done in a responsible manner that will go a long way to save our rivers, water bodies, forest reserves and the environment from threat.
The Deputy Lands Minister debunked the assertions raised by some individuals and groups of people that community mining schemes are launched and commissioned for him Hon George Mireku Duker saying it is never true and community mining belongs to the community and the chiefs.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr Martin Kwaku Ayisi also hinted that his outfit is there to offer the needed support for prospective small-scale mining persons who through the requisite procedures apply for mining concessions and are considered after meeting all the requirements.
Mr Kwaku Ayisi hinted that the Minerals Commission which he heads always ensures that the right thing is done before the issuance of mining licences which has been the surest way to responsible mining.
Mr Martin Kwaku Ayisi appealed to chiefs within the mining communities to be on the alert and make sure they demand proper mining documents from the outfit of the Minerals Commission and cross-check thoroughly before allowing for mining activities within their various jurisdictions.
There were questions, suggestions, views and the way forward for the small scale mining in Ghana which participants were drawn from members of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners operators of Community Mining Schemes individual small-scale miners, traditional rulers from the western and Ashanti regions and the media.
Dignitaries who attended the stakeholders’ engagement include, Mr Suleman Konney, Chief executive officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, Mr Martin Kwaku Ayisi, Chief executive officer of the Minerals Commission, Mr Ben Aryee, Special advisor to the Lands and Natural Resources minister on mining, the Chief executive officer of the Precious Minerals Marketing Company representative from the University of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa and other stakeholders in the mining sector
