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Should he win the presidency in the forthcoming December elections, National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer John Dramani Mahama has pledged to involve traditional leaders in the critical process of issuing mining licenses.
According to Mr. Mahama, the involvement of traditional leaders in the licensing procedure would significantly contribute to the resolution of the damage frequently brought about by the actions of unauthorized miners, also known as galamsey nationwide.
The former president lamented the harm that illegal mining has caused to other sectors of the Ghanaian economy in a speech at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani. He also promised to restrict the issuance of permits into forests and to outlaw mining in water bodies.
“One of the impacts of illegal mining, including galamsey, has been the destruction of forests and cocoa farms. We will protect the destruction of cocoa farms for mining and effectively ban the issuance of entry permits into forests. Mining in water bodies will be outrightly prohibited.
“Recognising the invaluable role of traditional leaders in our society and as a testament to our commitment to inclusivity and respect for all stakeholders, I intend to have traditional leaders included in the crucial process of granting mining licences in their communities.”
In order to combat galamsey effectively and efficiently, Mr. Mahama emphasized the need to “strengthen regulatory institutions such as the Minerals Commission, the EPA, the Geological Survey Authority, and the Natural Resources Universities.”
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
