Pressure Group, OccupyGhana, is reminding government to step up its efforts in dealing with the galamsey menace in the country.
The group which began a campaign three weeks ago to remind the government of the horrifying effect of galamsey on Ghana’s environment says they would sue the government if it fails to adhere to the guidelines it would be proffering.
They have released their third reminder Monday, October 17, tasking the government to confiscate all galamsey lands.
OccupyGhana says fresh ideas are needed to tackle the menace “and then to put in place a responsible and properly regulated artisanal mining regime. We therefore propose an amendment to the law to specifically criminalise the making of land available for Galamsey operations, and the confiscation of all such lands to the state.”
The group also adds that “Under section 99 of the Minerals and Mining Act, persons who provide lands or allow their lands to be used for Galamsey operations could be said to be abetting the offence by ‘facilitating’ it. That abetment attracts fines and imprisonment between 15 and 25 years. However, we believe that it is time to take the fight more directly to land owners, because without the land, there would be no Galamsey. We therefore propose a further amendment of the law to include a provision that specifically criminalises making land available or allowing land to be used for Galamsey, and then confiscates that land to the state.”
Read the full release below:
Source: Onuaonline.com|Ghana
