By Felix Cofie.
Government says the security apparatus has been placed on high alert to deal with those foreigners and Ghanaians involved in illegal gold business and those who smuggle gold out the country.
Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources George Mireku Duker who gave the caution said the government is committed to sanitizing the mining sector, including small-scale mining, which has been facing an infiltration of foreigners and in recent times, an escalation of smuggling of gold produced to neighbouring countries.
The Deputy Minister said the arrest of the two Chinese nationals and two Ghanaians and their subsequent conviction by the Court is indicative of the government’s resolve to sanitize the mining sector.
At a press briefing in Accra, Mr Mireku Duker said the conviction by the court and the severity of the penalties imposed are clear evidence of the government’s resolve to fight illegalities in the mining sector. He said the move is to make the illegal business unattractive. And for that reason, the government in 2019 decided that the sanctions applicable to illegal mining were not severe enough to provide the warranted deterrence and hence the passage of Act 995 to amend and make the sanctions stiffer.
Act 995 imposes the penalties that have been applied by the Court and which is expected to deter those who will be tempted to undertake illegal activities associated with mining.
The Deputy Minister said this is to sound a word of caution to persons involved in illegal mining activities, especially in water bodies and forest reserves.
”Those involved in gold smuggling and other related activities, this is to sound a word of caution to persons involved in illegal mining activities, especially in water bodies and forest reserve activities”, the Minister noted.
Mr. Duker said currently punishment for those who are found engaging in illegal mining are much stiffer.
Under Act 995 Penalty Units ranging between 10,000 to 250,000 and one could spend 15 – 25 years in prison.
On the 5th of November 2021, four persons, two Chinese and two Ghanaians were convicted by the Tarkwa Circuit Court for unlawfully dealing in gold and money laundering.
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