The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker, has rejected calls for a blanket ban on all small-scale mining operations, labelling them as misdirected.
He condemned the destruction of major water bodies and the environment by activities of illegal miners, emphasising that the government will continue to promote responsible mining operations.
He maintained that the government has not relented in its commitment to ending illegal mining activities but calls for concerted efforts to help address the situation.
His remarks come in response to appeals from professional bodies, including the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and other unions, urging President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to impose an immediate ban on small-scale mining as a measure to address the rampant environmental degradation caused by illegal mining.
Organised Labour has also served notice that it will embark on a nationwide strike if the government fails to take decisive action to end the devastation caused to water bodies and the environment by illegal mining activities.
However, speaking at the commissioning of the Meretweso Community Mining Scheme in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality of the Central Region, Mr Duker stressed that banning Small Scale Mining will amount to a misplaced priority.
He also revealed that the government will soon deploy river guards to protect the river bodies.
“It is misdirected because I was expecting them to have condemned the statement made by his excellency the former President Mahama before even calling for this action because you can’t just in a way out of the blue you just say put a ban. Ban on what.
“What are the metrics, what have you done. What analysis have you done. The statement President Mahama made was unfortunate so why didn’t they in a way ask him to apologise.”
“Secondly, yes people are destroying our waterbodies there are measures we need to take to clamp down recalcitrants who are destroying our waterbodies, and I agree with them perfectly…But I am against it.
“Personally against the call for the ban on mining generally. You can’t ban mining. Why must you ban mining,” he stated.
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