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The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has expressed regret over the harm caused by illicit mining operations, also referred to as galamsey. Should he win the December 7 presidential election, he has suggested creating a national joint action team on mining and forestry to address the issue.
In a speech at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in Sunyani for the 3rd Annual Transformational Dialogue on Small-scale Mining, Mahama stated that illicit mining has left Ghana with severe wounds that call for cooperation and immediate action to repair the harm done.
“At the same time, we cannot overlook the years of galamsey activities that have left our country with serious legacy scars. We propose some initiatives to restore degraded lands, rehabilitate impacted forests, and clean our polluted water bodies. These initiatives will restore the environment and create thousands of jobs in the affected mining communities.
“We will establish a National Joint Action Team on Mining and Forestry, a collaboration between the Forestry Commission, the Private Sector and SSM operators to rehabilitate impacted forests. This initiative will also create thousands of jobs in the affected mining communities.”
Mahama stated that the joint action team will be supported by “special fees from the Minerals Commission, contributions by the [Small-Scale Miners] SSM Association, and interested plantation companies.” The team’s mandate will include reclaiming and rehabilitating destroyed lands and turning them into production zones and various crop plantations.
In order to help stop the devastation, he said, a #Atree4life project will also be started in mining villages to inspire young people to plant trees that will be profitable.
“A Galamsey Rehabilitation Initiative will work to convert impacted lands into commercial crop production zones, such as palm, shea nut, cocoa and rubber plantations. This will be funded through special fees from the Minerals Commission, contributions by the SSM Association, and interested plantation companies.
“I will launch a #Atree4life project through which re-afforestation by young people in mining areas will become an economically engaging activity. They will supervise the growth of these economically viable tree crops.”
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
