President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has asked Regional Security Councils in all mining regions to lead the fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey, in the country.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Samuel A. Jinapor who disclosed this, said the move, will among others, help ensure effective security operations at all levels in curbing the menace of illegal mining.
He added that the security architecture of the management of the Lands and Natural Resources, rest with the Regional Security Councils across the country, saying that, with absolute commitment and teamwork, the government’s quest to protect Ghana’s forest cover and water bodies will be achieved.
Mr. Jinapor stated this when he met the Northern Regional Security Council in Tamale on Monday 4th October 2021 during his one-day tour of the Northern Region.
The Northern Region, the Minister said, is the parent of all the five regions in Northern Ghana, with Tamale fast becoming the headquarters of Northern Africa with network from Burkina Faso, Mali among others.
He also described Tamale as the city at the centre of all developmental affairs in the northern sector, hence any challenge within the metropolis automatically will have shared consequences for the other regions.
He, therefore, called on the traditional authorities, opinion leaders and government officials in and around the region to safeguard the area in order to remain relevant in the development agenda of government.
The Minister further mentioned some interventions being made by the government to stop the illegal harvesting of wood including the impounding of Rosewood and the outright ban on the commodity as well as a soon-to-be rolled-out aggressive afforestation drive in response to deforestation to restore the country’s forest cover.
On his part, the Northern Regional Minister, Mr. Shani Alhassan Shaibu who is also the chair of REGSEC bemoaned the wanton encroachment on public lands, forest reserves, and sand winning which has become a challenge in the region.
He hoped the current partnership with the Ministry will resolve many of these challenges and will go a long way to protect the natural resources of the country.