By thefourlens.com
Fiapre (B/R), May 09, 2024
The Vice President and Presidential Candidate for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia said Traditional Authorities are key stakeholders in the small-scale mining sector and play critical role in ensuring galamsey is a thing of the past.
He stated Traditional Rulers are needed on board, hence the government is committed to collaborate with them to engage the relevant institutions, Civil Society Organizations, Security Services, the local communities and others to combine efforts in fighting the galamsey and its menace.
The Vice President added Ghana need a pragmatic national approach, systems and structures to enhance responsible mining.
He was speaking on Wednesday at the 3rd Annual Transformational Dialogue on Small-scale mining, organized by UENR under the theme: “Charting Our Country Mining Vision and the Future of Illegal Mining”.
It aimed at seeking stakeholders and individual approach to effectively deal with illegal mining and its consequences to save the environment, water bodies and the forest cover.
According to Dr. Bawumia, “we cannot pretend the fight against galamsey has been won”, therefore effective systems and structures are required to enhance responsible mining and avert the menace of galamsey.
Dr. Bawumia noted for Ghana to get the full benefits of her mineral resources, government is committed to empowering institutions such as the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), University of Mines and Technology (UMAT) and the Geological Survey Departments for exploration.
The institutions, when empowered would ensure Ghana takes control and full benefits of her natural resources, he explained.
Dr. Bawumia was optimistic that formalizing all the Small-scale mining sectors and giving licenses for the mining communities would facilitate responsible mining.
Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, the Vice-Chancellor, UENR implored all the relevant stakeholders including government agencies, the security services, media and the academia to effectively contribute their quota in dealing with illegal mining in their respective communities.
He assured the University, through its sustainable mining and environmental reclamation programs stands strong and significant partner in dealing with illegal mining.
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