Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and Regional Ministers have been encouraged by the Lands and Natural Resources Minister to join in the fight against illegal mining.
Samuel Abu Jinapor explained that the ravaging effects of illegal mining are costing the country so much and must be stopped.
While addressing a forum of MMDCEs and Regional Ministers in the Ashanti Region after visiting some sites noted for illegal knowledge to get first-hand knowledge of the situation, the Minister indicated that all stakeholders need to be involved for Ghana to win this fight against illegal mining.
“The fight against illegal mining can only be won if we all collectively put our support behind the fight. Mining is never conducted in the office, it is conducted out there, and the people who are responsible for the various jurisdictions of the country are the ones to come to terms with this matter.”
He expressed worry at the damage the illegal mining activities have caused during his tour of the sites and assured him that the military would continually be deployed to clamp down on the illegal miners.
Mr Jinapor expressed shock that activities of illegal mining going on in the forests and river bodies under the blind side of authorities.
“It should baffle all of us as citizens and policymakers and stakeholders in this fight how an operation like this in the heart of the forest and the far away areas of our country can go on without notice by police, chiefs, the local political leadership, assembly people, the District Chief Executive and even the inspectorate division of the minerals commission here”.
