The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene has issued a directive to all small-scale miners operating within the region to submit their mining documents to the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council by next Friday.
This move aims to ensure accountability and responsible mining practices.
He said “Within this week up to next Friday, everyone must submit to us a copy of their land title, lease agreement, concession agreement, and all other relevant documents.”
During a media briefing following an inspection of the Offin Shelter Belt Forest at Nkawie, alongside Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Emmanuel Kofi Armah Boah, Dr. Amoakohene emphasized the need for miners to provide copies of land leases, concession agreements, and other relevant documents.
This initiative will help identify legitimate mining operators and ensure that those with proper documentation are held responsible for land reclamation.
“While at the forest reserves and water bodies, we want to ensure that those who have the necessary documents and are operating legally will bear the responsibility of reclaiming the land.”
The Minister expressed concerns about the environmental impact of mining activities, noting that many areas are left unreclaimed after mining.
“While moving, we’ve seen some areas are not forest reserves, but after mining activities are completed, they leave the land without reclaiming it.”
To facilitate this process, Dr. Amoakohene emphasized that an official secretariat will be established at the Regional Coordinating Council.
“So, we will communicate officially and open a secretariat at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), where everyone will be required to submit a copy of documents authorizing mining activities”
He then added “This will enable us to track everyone involved in mining activities, allowing us to identify the specific individuals to whom the land was allocated and hold them accountable in the future.”
www.kumasimail.com / Kwadwo Owusu
