Four Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), A Rocha Ghana, Kasa Initiative Ghana, Nature and Development Foundation, and Concerned Citizens of Atewa Landscape, are calling on President John Dramani Mahama’s administration to sack the current Minerals Commission.
Addressing a pressing conference at the International Press Center in Accra, the Civil Society Organizations (CSO) whose aim is geared toward environmental advocates and concerns indicated that the move is to urgently address the escalating issues of illegal mining, environmental degradation, and the failure of regulatory enforcement in Ghana.
According to the group, the Minerals Commission needs a new and sustainability-oriented leadership.
They further stated that the Minerals Commission’s current leadership has failed to ensure responsible mining practices that safeguard social and environmental protections across the country.
“We call on the government to, as a matter of urgency, replace the Executive Director of the Minerals Commission with a visionary leader who will usher in a new era of responsible mining.
“This new leadership must prioritize transparency, accountability, and the enforcement of regulations that prioritize the social and environmental safeguards of all citizens and protect communities from the adverse effects of exploring Ghana’s rich mineral deposits”, the group stated.
The group also requested the government to resource the Forestry Commission to confiscate excavators used in illegal mining activities in forest reserves
“The debate over whether to burn or not to burn excavators used in illegal mining is complex, given the significant vested interests and influences at play. However, considering Ghana’s weak compliance regime and lived experiences, the burning of excavators remains the most effective deterrent against the impunity of illegal miners destroying forests and rivers nationwide.
“To eliminate the need for burning excavators, as indicated by HE John Dramani Mahama, the government must provide the Forestry Commission with the necessary tools, resources, and financial support to effectively monitor, regulate, and combat illegal mining activities.
“This includes enabling the Commission to seize, remove, manage, and process confiscated equipment efficiently. Without such investment, efforts to curb illegal mining in forest reserves will remain ineffective and a drain on public resources.”
