Government will this year launch the Community Mining Scheme and an Alternative Livelihood Programme for illegal miners in the Upper West Region to help the youth in the region engage in responsible and effective mining.
Sector Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, announced this at a meeting with the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs in Wa. He said the programme will aid the youth of the Upper West Region earn some decent income and also go a long way to prevent the engagement in illegalities.
The Minister reiterated that Minerals have been discovered in the 5 Regions of the North, particularly in the Upper West Region which is fast breeding illegal mining activities and therefore called for the support of the chiefs to bring an end to the menace as soon as possible.
He added that the chiefs should collaborate with the Regional Security Council to ensure that illegal mining is not perpetrated.
He assured the chiefs that the issues on the land tenure system will be thoroughly examined by a committee and find ways of dealing with it.
The Minister emphasised the pivotal role of Chiefs in the total Administration of the Natural Resources of the country. He said, “Chiefs have and will always be an automatic partner in the land administration of our country.”
Mr Jinapor thanked the chiefs for their time and assured them that he will do everything in his power to bring development into the region.
The President of the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, Naa Naa Dikomwine Domalae, called on the government to sensitize Chiefs on the New Land Act, Act (1036) as stakeholders of the Land Resources of Ghana.
He said they need to be abreast with new developments on issues relating to land Administration and this, he said, will enable them better appreciate and contribute constructively to the development of land issues of the country.
On behalf of the House of Chiefs, the President pledged their support to the Minister in the fight against environmental degradation which springs from deforestation and illegal mining.
He said traditional Authorities over the years have urged their subjects to desist from bush burning, cutting down of economic trees such as the shea trees, Rosewood and illegal mining as these are contributing factors to climate change especially in Ghana and Africa.”
He said that they will assist the government to seek best ways to help protect the forest cover in order to improve climate change and the ecosystem.
The President commended the Minister for his exploits in the fight against the general destruction of the Natural Resources of our country.
He said ” We have followed with keen interest your exploit, the zeal and response to duty since your appointment as Minister. To my estimation you have been impactful in your sector especially in the fight against galamsey”
By: Felix Cofie.