John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has outlined a robust strategy to tackle illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, in Ghana. In a serious effort to curb the environmental and social damage caused by this practice, Mahama has proposed a series of stringent measures to hold mining operators accountable, promote responsible mining, and restore the country’s degraded lands and polluted water bodies.
Mahama emphasized that mining concession holders will face strict oversight under his government. In an address to clergy at De-Icon in East Legon, he stated his intention to audit all mining concessions and identify the true beneficiaries of these agreements. He made it clear that concession owners will be held accountable for illegal mining activities within their areas.
“We will audit all mining concessions that have been issued and identify the beneficiary owners. If illegal mining takes place on your concession, that concession will be taken away from you,” Mahama warned.
The NDC flagbearer acknowledged the importance of small-scale mining but stressed that it must be conducted responsibly and in compliance with environmental laws. He vowed to crack down on galamsey by introducing tougher laws and banning new mining leases in forest reserves.
“We will promote responsible mining and wage a war against illegal mining,” Mahama declared, revealing his “Tree for Life” and “Blue Water” initiatives aimed at reclaiming polluted water bodies, restoring degraded lands, and replanting devastated forest reserves.
In addition to stricter regulations, Mahama plans to ensure that small-scale miners are equipped with the necessary skills to conduct mining without harming the environment. He announced that small-scale mining concession holders will be required to undergo training in modern responsible mining methods and land reclamation.
“Small-scale mining concession holders will be compelled to undertake skilled training in modern responsible mining methods and reclamation,” he said. Additionally, a portion of the revenue from small-scale mining will be allocated for land reclamation. If concession holders fail to restore mined areas, Mahama promised to use these funds to hire others to reclaim the land and replant trees.
To prevent conflicts of interest, Mahama declared that under his administration, government appointees will be banned from engaging in any form of mining, legal or illegal. This policy, he stated, would eliminate any potential for corrupt practices linked to the mining industry.
With these bold initiatives, Mahama has demonstrated a serious commitment to combating the menace of galamsey and ensuring that mining activities are conducted in a way that protects Ghana’s environment and resources for future generations.
Source: www.kumasimail.com/ kwadwo Owusu
