By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced government’s plan on the crackdown on illegal mining, stating that there will be tracking of excavator imports into the country.
The plan, according to him, aims to prevent mining equipment from entering the country without proper authorization. ‘’We are collaborating with licensing authorities to track every excavator that enters the country,’’ he said during the opening of the global mining summit held in Accra.
He also emphasized the need for responsible and sustainable mining practices. He highlighted the devastating impact of illegal mining on the environment, including deforestation, soil erosion, and water pollution, which not only harms ecosystems but also poses significant health risks and complicates water treatment processes for the Ghana Water Company Limited.
According to the Lands Minister, significant progress has been made in reclaiming forest reserves, with eight out of nine reserves already reclaimed. He also noted that 44 out of 208 forests in the country have been degraded by illegal mining. The government has seized about 100 excavators, three bulldozers, and four vehicles, and arrested 76 illegal miners, with plans to prosecute them.
Present at the Mining in Motion Conference in Accra, President John Dramani addressed the positive impact mining had on the Gross Domestic Product, foreign exchange, and employment in the country.
According to him, we need to ask ourselves this question, ‘’Why does the wealth beneath our feet not translate into prosperity above ground?’’ emphasizing the need for the country to benefit from its natural resources.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, also spoke at the conference, warning against the ongoing damage caused by illegal mining and urging industry leaders and policymakers to work together for lasting solutions.
