President John Dramani Mahama has announced a sweeping policy to prohibit mining activities in all forest reserves across the country.
Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of new government appointees at the Flagstaff House, the President emphasized his administration’s commitment to environmental protection and sustainable resource management.
“It shall be the policy of this government to ban the issuance of leases for mining in all forest reserves,” President Mahama declared, adding that his administration would take immediate steps to revoke any such leases issued under the previous government.
In a firm warning, he dismissed recent reports suggesting that his government had authorized individuals or groups to undertake mining activities in forest reserves. “Let me state categorically that this government has not given any person or group of persons the authority to carry out any form of mining in these forest reserves,” he stated.
To reinforce this stance, President Mahama directed the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the Minister for the Interior, the Attorney General, and the Minister for Justice to take immediate action to arrest and prosecute individuals engaged in illegal mining within protected areas.
The President also issued a stern directive against government officials participating in illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey. “No member of this government is permitted to engage in any form of small-scale mining or galamsey. Any such persons will face swift and severe sanctions,” he warned.
Acknowledging the devastating impact of illegal mining on the environment, President Mahama announced plans to hold a broad stakeholder consultation to develop a national strategy against galamsey.
“We intend to call a stakeholder consultation on the menace of galamsey to forge a broad consensus on the measures we intend to take to preserve our environment from wanton destruction,” he said.
As part of the government’s efforts, the President disclosed plans to establish a River Guard, a task force that will employ local youth from communities affected by illegal mining to help protect water bodies from pollution and degradation.
This latest policy signals a strong commitment by the Mahama administration to combat illegal mining and safeguard Ghana’s natural resources for future generations.
Source : www.kumasimail.com
