The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has declared that the fight against illegal mining, known as ‘galamsey,’ is a collective responsibility and no longer a partisan issue.
He emphasized that the greed of a few should not lead to loss of life, noting that since our ancestors preserved the forest vegetation, we must bring all hands on deck protect it for posterity.
During his oration at the launch of the Responsible Co-operative Mining and Skills Development Program (RCOMSDEP) in Bibiani, he underscored that if the fight against galamsey could be won through guns and security forces alone, it would have been eradicated by now. He reiterated, “We believe the solution lies in education, sensitization, and engagement with Ghanaian communities to instill in our hearts and souls that protecting the soul of our country is a collective responsibility.” He stressed, “this is not an NDC or NPP issue anymore.”
He outlined measures for responsible mining and the procedures to follow to obtain a government license for those interested in participating in the program.
FRANK ASARE PEDRO, National Coordinator for RCOMSDEP, highlighted that water is life, and polluting water bodies is tantamount to destroying life.
He explained that the government plans to create employment and foster community development through the responsible mining policy, which will help eradicate illegal mining while prioritizing land reclamation.
He stressed that enforcing RCOMSDEP will aid in defeating galamsey, which continues to pollute water bodies and forests.
The parliamentary representative for Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai, Hon. BRIGHT ASAMOAH BREFO, expressed concern over how his constituency, despite its wealth in natural resources, has been sidelined. He noted that galamsey has rendered the lives of some youths meaningless and has polluted rivers in the constituency.
He stated that the Responsible Co-operative Mining and Skills Development Program will instill hope in the youth, urging galamsey operators to abandon illegal mining practices.
The representative of OGYEAHOHO YAW GYEBI and Chief of Pataboso, NANA OSUAAMAN ACKAH PANIN II, appealed to the Lands Minister to collaborate with the Forestry Commission in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai municipality to allow farmers with cocoa farms in the forest to continue harvesting. However, he suggested that cocoa farms less than two years old should be cleared, and new cocoa farming in the forest should be prohibited.
He assured the government of Nananom’s commitment to monitor and prevent further entry into the forest, urging fellow chiefs to stop leasing lands to illegal miners for profit. Instead, traditional leaders should support the sector minister and the government in combating illegal mining.
AKUAPEM-HANN KWAME OMONO ASAMOAH Okyeame Radio-Bibiani, reporting.
