The President Of Ghana, President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday opened a two-day bi-partisan Consultative Dialogue on Small-Scale Mining in Accra to discuss illegal small-scale mining devoid of partisan politics, narrow and parochial interests.
The Dialogue themed “Sustainable Small-Scale Mining for National Development” aimed to ensure a broad-based consensus and a workable blueprint to promote sustainable mining and stem illegal small-scale mining in the country.
It brought together representatives from the Ghana Association of Small-Scale Miners and Ghana Chamber of Mines, chiefs from the 16 regions, members of the Council of State and National House of Chiefs, among other stakeholders.
The major objective of the dialogue is to engage stakeholders in small-scale mining industry to engage in honest and candid conversations to stem the tide of the menace of illegal small-scale mining, otherwise known as “galamsey”.
Even though mining created jobs and improved livelihoods, it should not be done at the expense of damaging the environment.
Ghana is not only made up of the people, but the soil, water bodies, valleys, mountains, forests, plants and animal life, without them, we will not survive, and requires our collective determination to protect them,” he remarked.
“Ghana is endowed with numerous natural resources and should explore innovative ways to exploit them, without hurting the environment,”
President Akufo-Addo underlined the need to engage in responsible and sustainable methods of mining capable of taking care of the forests, flora and animal life.
The President reiterated his earlier stand to fight against ‘galamsey’ and deal decisively with anyone that engaged in it, irrespective of his or her political affiliation and influence in society.
He pledged his government’s resolve to strictly implement the recommendations from the Consultative Dialogue for the benefit of the entire citizenry.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel A. Jinapor, expressed optimism that the proposals, ideas and suggestions from the Dialogue would form a workable blueprint to tackle the illegal mining menace.
He said to implement solutions and recommendations from the Dialogue, it would require holistic and collective national efforts anchored on integrity of action to halt the galamsey menace.