By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The President of the National House of Chiefs, Ogyeahoguo Yaw Gyebi, who is also the Paramount Chief of the Sefwi Bekwai Traditional Area, has criticized the clarion calls by organized labour and civil society organizations for President of the Republic, Nana Akufo-Addo to declare a State of Emergency in mining areas as well as ban small scale mining operations in the country to allow for the state to decisively sanitize the mining sector against galamsey.
Ogyeahohuo Yaw Gyebi asserted that, Ghana cannot allow her mineral resources to remain unearthed and that, the best way forward is for the government to devise the best strategies including involvement with key stakeholders like traditional authorities to ensure environmentally responsible means of mining.
The President of the National House of Chiefs said this at Bibiani in the Sefwi Bekwai-Anwiaso-Bibiani Municipality of the Western North region at the inauguration of a permanent office building for the Minerals Commission.
“I say it here, you all know that I dislike galamsey, I fight it. But that doesn’t mean Ghanaians shouldn’t engage in mining. The gold deposit is for us but there are appropriate means of extracting it. That’s why this district office has been set up, if you come with your application, they would guide you about how and where you could mine in the interest of the country.”
“Those who are calling for a State of Emergency and a ban on mining and other sanctions, eii, do you know how much mining contributes to the economy!! If we stop mining, don’t you know our youth involved in mining will lose their livelihood!! All we’re asking for is a better way of regularize illegal mining to retain such operators in employment, that’s what we ask for.
As for the mining, we’ll do but let’s do it the best way!!”, the National House of Chiefs President insisted.
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, said the Ad hoc Ministerial Committee set up by the President to deal with the menace of galamsey has begun its work by engaging interest groups including organized labour and the National House of Chiefs to find a lasting antidote to illegal mining to safeguard the environment.
“We welcome the various concerns that have been raised by several groups of people, as well as their recommendations for dealing with this matter.
The President of the Republic has constituted an Ad hoc Ministerial Committee under the Chairmanship of the Minister for National Security, to engage all stakeholders, and to find a common ground to fight this menace. Yesterday, the Committee met with organized labour, and in the coming days, we will engage with other groups of people to ensure that we come to grips with this matter”, he stated.
The Board Chairperson of the Minerals Commission, Mrs. Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, said the Commission, working with its key interest groups is already implementing measures such as tracking of the movement of earth-moving equipment used in illegal mining operations across all mining areas in the country leading to the arrest of some of the ‘galamseyers’.
She explained that the new office is in line with efforts by the Commission to decentralize part of its operations.
The Bibiani-Anwiaso-Bekwai-Bibiani Municipality is one of the mining epicentre in Ghana hosting three large-scale mining firms including the Ghana Bauxite Company at Awaso. Small-scale mining is also prevalent in this geographical enclave.
This informed the Minerals Commission to establish one of its District Mining offices there, years ago.
However, the efficiency of the District Mining Office was limited due to its space as it was in a rented two-bedroom apartment thereby restricting the number of key officials available to enforce the country’s mining laws. Construction of the new one-storey extra spacious office comes with everything modern facility the Minerals Commission requires to live up to its legal mandate of ensuring effective monitoring and compliance by licensed mining companies.
