Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mining George Mireku Duker has kicked against the call for ban on small scale mining.
He says the sector provides employment for over a million citizens which should be sustained to reduce the already teeming unemployment.
Speaking at a stakeholders engagement on responsible mining at Bepoh in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality of the Western Region, Mr. Duker indicated government is fully aware of the fact that mining has become a critical economic venture for millions of Ghanaians thus the introduction of the community mining scheme which will allow people to mine but responsibly.
“All the large scale min ing companies in this country together employs thirty thousand. This includes both Ghanaians and expatriates. However, the small scale mining sector gives direct employment to over a million Ghanaians. So, as deputy minister in charge of mining I do not agree that small scale mining is banned. But if we will be able to continue to do so, we must do so responsibly. And that is non negotiable”.
READ ALSO: Galamsey: Angry Mireku Duker blames chiefs, residents for looking on for Mesin river to be polluted
He warned that anyone who is not ready to embrace the Community mining concept but still wants to mine illegally should be ready to face the full consequences of their actions.
Secretary to the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Mining Prestea Huni Valley Nuhu Mohammed Mustapha in an address suggested how illegal small scale mining could be stopped.
“The illegal small scale miners use a certain black hose that connects the Changfan machine. This is what powers the machine and is very essential to its performance. What we are proposing is that government bans its importation.
The life span of that black hose is only two weeks and the miners will be looking for one to buy. So when they do not get one to buy they will not be able to power the Changfan machine and that will put them out of work. Banning the Changfan machine will not solve anything. Rather government should go after that black hose,” he suggested.
Source: Onuaonline.com|Ghana
