By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Coalition for Cocoa Sector Reforms (CCSR), an advocacy group is calling on the government to place a ban on mining activities in cocoa-growing areas.
According to the group, illegal miners are buying and destroying cultivated lands, forests, living quarters, and water bodies.
Experts predict that should the current trend of mining in cocoa growing areas continue, farmers would be thrown out of their home, due to Galamsey activities.
”Today, due to the deteriorating living conditions of cocoa farmers caused by the galamsey activities, farmers under compelling circumstances sell out their cocoa farms to illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) operators”, according to the Coalition for Cocoa Sector Reforms.
”The Forestry Commission, Minerals Commission, and our chiefs are all expressing innocence in face of the menace”, it alleges.
“We hereby recommend that the government takes the following policy decision seriously. Government must issue one year moratorium for the cessation of all mining activities be it large-scale, small-scale mining, or illegal mining activities in Ghana as a show of seriousness for the fight against galamsey.
“The Minerals Commission must carry out an assessment of permits and concession lands of a license holder for publication. All degraded lands and withdraw licenses of entities falling foul of standard mining practice”.
The CSO also gave more recommendations;
“Prosecute and fine all companies that carried out their activities without reclamation and without requisite permit.”,
“Educate and empower Chiefs, District Assemblies, and Community Members to monitor and safeguard the re-entry of the illegal activities in their areas of jurisdictions.”