The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and MP for the Damongo constituency, Hon. Lawyer Samuel Abu Jinapor has noted that the president of Ghana and the NPP government are not against small-scale mining but what they are against is irresponsible small-scale mining popularly known as galamsey.
He made this statement when he met with the Bole division of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners(GNASSM) in Bole in the Savannah region as part of his tour in the five northern regions.
In his statement the minister said “President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo is not against small scale mining but what he is against is irresponsible small scale mining which degrades the environment”.
He further noted that individuals who engage in galamsey excavate the land without refilling, revegetating and they also use other improper methods and substances in their activities which poses health risks and other environmental challenges to man.
Hon. Lawyer Samuel Abu Jinapor disclosed that government is rolling out models of responsible community mining and as the sector minister he can’t leave out the people of the Savannah region most especially Bole and it’s environs.
He then assured the Bole division of GNASSM of acquiring them concisions to engage in their activities and that the leadership of the Bole division of GNASSM are always welcomed to his office but pleaded on miners in the district not to disappoint him by engaging in galamsey when he fulfils his promise because it will be disgraceful for Ghanaians to know that he is working hard to promote responsible mining whiles his own brothers are doing otherwise.
Speaking to Yagbon News, the former secretary to the Bole division of GNASSM and the current national communications director of GNASSM, Mr. Alhassan Razack disclosed that miners in the Bole district do not mine in forests or water bodies but their concern which they presented to the miners was on how to get concisions to engage in their activities.
He noted that the government has initiated a flagship program dubbed Community Mining through this initiative the Bole district has gained 4 concisions to engage in community mining but pleaded with the Minister for more concisions which he assured them he was going to help them with.
Mr. Alhassan Razack then used the opportunity to caution all miners in the District to strictly adhere to the regulations outlined by the ministry of lands and natural resources and stop any illegalities if they were engaging in any to ensure a successful operation of their activities whiles promoting the agenda of the ministry to promote responsible community mining.
Source: yagbonradioonline/Issah Zakaria
