Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has called for enhanced national dialogue on the sustainable exploitation of Ghana’s minerals, forest and wildlife resources.
This is to ensure that lives of the living and generations yet unborn are not adversely affected by unregulated Exploitation.
He expressed worry about warnings from experts that the nation risks losing its forest cover, as well as the many rivers and streams if negative practices such as illegal mining and indiscriminate wood harvesting and burning are not curtailed.
Dr Bawumia, therefore, called for increased collaboration and engagements with stakeholders, especially those directly affected by such activities, to avert the looming danger.
The Vice President made the call at the Second Regional Consultative Dialogue on Small Scale Mining and Deforestation held in Tamale.
The first dialogue was held in Kumasi, following the National Dialogue in Accra, opened by President Akufo-Addo. The focus is Sustainable Small Scale Mining and Forest Conservation for National Development.
Vice President Bawumia indicated that a lot of livelihoods depend on mining and the exploitation of forest resources as the contribution of the mineral and forest resources to national development agenda cannot be over emphasised.
He said the exploitation of these resources has not been without negative impacts on the natural environment due to the unsustainable practices employed, leading to pollution of water bodies. Dr. Bawumia stated that discussion on sustainable exploitation should be devoid of politics.
Dr. Bawumiah reminded the participants that illegal mining and logging happen within communities, this is why all stakeholders must come on board to address it once and for all.
