News:
September 4, 2017
Member of Parliament (MP) for Prestea/Huni-Valley, Barbra Oteng Gyasi says government will introduce a strategic plan to end illegal mining activities in the country.
Speaking to Ghanamps.com, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources stated that the Ministry has put in place a strategic multilateral integrated mining document which will actually outline various component plans to bring complete stop to illegal mining in Ghana.
She further noted that, the multilateral project is going to look at introducing alternative livelihood programme, where people who are engaged in illegal mining will be taken through appropriate training process at University of Mines and Technology (UMaT),Tarkwa.
He further revealed that, the Ministry is collating names of person engaged in illegal mining who will be taken through the training at UMaT Tarkwa.
The Deputy Minister also revealed that the project will be implemented over a five year period, adding that this project will see improvement in Ghana’s small scale mining activities and cut out illegal mining.
She however dispelled the notion the government wants to put an end to mining activities in the country, rather “we want to put an end to illegal mining and ensure that mining is done properly” she said.
We are going to have reclamation of lands which is also going to provide employment avenue for the youth because we are going to do plantations as well.
Again government itself has propertied some lands which we know have mineral resources, we are going to allocate it to groups which will be registered as cooperatives. Lands will be given out to them and experts assigned to monitor their activities.
By: Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/ghanamps.com