Former President John Dramani Mahama, a presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has pledged to mercilessly tackle illegal small-scale mining.
First, Mahama advised, examining all issued mining concessions and finding beneficial owners of such concessions.
Concession owners will be accountable for illegal mining within their concession grounds, he claims.
Speaking to the Accra clergy on Tuesday, October 1, Mr Mahama stated, “Small-scale mining is recognised by law and must be done in a manner that does not destroy the environment. We will review all issued concessions and find the beneficial owners of such ones. Illegal mining within their concession zones will be attributed to concession owners.
“We will fight a merciless campaign against illegal mining, Galamsey, while nevertheless promoting responsible mining. Under a Tree for Life and Blue Water project, this will include an intensive drive to rehabilitate our contaminated water bodies, degraded land and devastated forest reserves.
In this effort, Mahama claimed he “must change the Mineral and Mining Law to impose stricter punishment on mining in water bodies and prevent the grant of new mining leases and activities in forest reserves. All officials working under my government will be forbidden from mining either legally or illegally. To limit their negative environmental effects, small-scale miners will be obliged to engage in skills training in modern responsible procedures and land reclamation techniques.
By means of a consultative approach, I will strengthen the execution of the Free SHS program to thus improve quality by means of a dedicated source of money, elimination of the double-track system, and decentralisation of food procurement among other things.
