The Legal Green Association (LGA), a civil society group made up of professional law students, has urged government to prioritize sustainable mining practices rather than imposing outright bans on community mining activities in its fight against illegal mining (galamsey).
In a statement ahead of government’s planned engagement with civil society organisations (CSOs) on Friday, the Association said many communities in Ghana, particularly those in mineral-rich areas, derive economic benefits from their lands just as other communities do from fishing or salt mining.
Preventing them from mining, it argued, would amount to economic deprivation.
The group, however, stressed that mining must be carried out responsibly and within sustainable frameworks. It outlined a number of proposals, including:
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Green Mining Campaign: Government should launch a “Towards Sustainable Mining” initiative to promote environmentally friendly technologies and practices.
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Water Purification Dams: Investment in treatment dams along heavily polluted rivers to reverse environmental damage caused by galamsey.
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Polluter Pay Principle: A mandatory environmental levy on mining operations to fund land reclamation, water purification, reforestation, and incentives for eco-friendly miners.
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Regional Training Centres: Establishment of centres to train miners in sustainable methods, with compulsory community mining agreements and the introduction of a “Green Mining Certificate.”
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Enhanced Monitoring: Use of annual environmental audits, GPS mapping, and drone surveillance to ensure compliance and enforce re-vegetation and reclamation.
“The future of Ghana’s mineral wealth lies in the ability to balance economic needs with ecological stewardship. Sustainable mining practices are essential for the long-term success of Ghana’s mineral industry,” the Association noted.
LGA welcomed government’s current measures to curb illegal mining but emphasized that collaboration among government, civil society, academia, and traditional authorities is vital to making reforms effective and irreversible.
The Association expressed readiness to contribute to further technical and policy-level engagements on the issue.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
