The government’s unbroken resolve to stamp out illegal and irresponsible small-mining risks is unsuccessful if it is not backed by the patriotic efforts of Ghanaians and the synergetic work of relevant state institutions, Deputy Lands Minister, George Mireku Duker has professed.
According to him, the government has demonstrated beyond doubt that purging the mining sector of all forms of illegalities is a priority but the government’s efforts will be unyielding if the populace does not denounce the menace and join forces with the government to achieve to eradicate it.
Addressing committee members at the inauguration of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Mining Committees in the Northern, Upper East, Upper East and Northern Regions, the Honorable Deputy Minister stressed that the repudiation of the destructive galamsey by Ghanaians should not be evidenced only through word of mouth but through actions that complement the efforts of the government.
Hon. Mireku Duker charged the committee members to act above reproach and exhibit selflessness, fairness and firmness in their activities.
He reminded the committee members of their task of ensuring that mining institutions respect the dictates of the license granted them by Minerals Commission.
Hon. Duker that it is the duty of the committee to prevent mining institutions from mining beyond their concessions.
“You are supposed to ensure that mining companies do not go beyond their concessions”, he told the committee members.
Hon. Duker maintained that the government is taking drastic yet legal measures to permanently address the destruction of water bodies by unscrupulous mining firms and persons.
These measures, he said, include the purchasing of speedboats for patrolling on water bodies, the training of river wardens and provision of accouterment and support to the anti-galamsey taskforce christened Operation Halt II.
“As a government, we are not relenting in the operations of Operation Halt II. Activities to clamp down people who are determined to go their way to destroy our river bodies,” he said.
The Upper East Regional Minister appealed to the committees to ‘work diligently to make sure that whatever task is given to us, we do it right so that the benefit we accrue will help these four regions. If we do that, it will elevate us from the poverty level to a level that we will claim to be rich”.
The Municipal Chief Executive of Walewale who is the chair of the committee in his area, Animeyaw Somo Lucky Basintale who spoke on behalf of the committees lauded the ministry for its effort to improve the mining sector.
He noted that mining activities in the country are being regularized and that is due to the visionary leadership of the sector minister and his deputies.
He affirmed the commitment of the committee members to supporting the ministry achieve its objective for the sector.
Story by:Kwaku Stephen
