By: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah has issued a stern warning to individuals and groups mining in water bodies and forest reserves to desist from the act since anyone caught will not be spared.
In a renewed spirited fight against illegal mining known in the Ghanaian parlance as Galamsey in forest reserves, in and around water bodies, the Lands Minister has thus declared war against illegal miners saying no one, regardless of political affiliation would be spared if they decide to mine in these restricted zones.
Touring the Offin-Shelter belt forest reserve within the Nkawie district of the Ashanti region, Mr. Armah Kofi Buah in the company of a joint military-police task force successfully moved out all miners in the Offin-Shelter belt forest reserve.
Speaking to the media, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources reiterated the importance of water bodies and forest reserves to the economic well-being of the country and especially the citizens.
“The only reason for us being alive today is because of our environment, this is why we breathe. This is where we get everything that will keep us as human beings alive. So when you see this devastation at the heart of the Offin River which takes its source from here, what few of our people are doing to us is that they have come to kill us where it matters most.
My message to our young people who want to do mining is that there is a pathway for doing the right mining. But we are not going to spare anybody who ventures to do illegal mining in our reserves and we’ve made it clear,” He stated forcefully.
Mr. Armah Kofi Buah said he was confident that the move by the government to repel L.I. 2463 which grants permits for mining in forest reserves would help the move to protect the forest reserves since even the President would not have the power to grant such authority for mining in restricted zones.
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