The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources John Peter Amewu has disclosed that government will help illegal miners return to the mines after legitimizing their activities.
“We will help you go back to the land and do your mining but not what you are doing out there,” he told the miners Wednesday April 19, 2017 in the Eastern region where he is leading a team to inspect the mining sites as the three weeks ultimatum given to illegal miners elapsed today.
“At the appropriate time when you have to go and mine and mine well we will come back and inform you,” he added.
The campaign against illegal mining popularly known as galamsey appears to be bearing fruits as over 500 excavators had been evacuated from the various illegal mining sites in the country, the Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission Dr Tony Aubyn said.
He said the excavators are being moved by the operators of the mining sites themselves without any intervention by the State.
Ghana is on a national campaign to rid the country of galamsey which has destroyed many of the country’s water bodies.
A three-week ultimatum announced by the Lands and Natural minister Amewu to end galamsey expires today.
Chinese nationals in Ghana are known to be leading the galamsey exploits in the country. It is believed that Ghana will be importing water in the next 10 years if galamsey is allowed to continue.
Speaking on Morning Starr Tuesday, Mr. Aubyn said the cooperation by the illegal miners have been impressive.
“There has been rapid response by most illegal miners and this is positive. Excavators have been moved from the bush to some parking areas. By our records, we have close to 500 excavators moved from areas where illegal mining is common. We do not have a problem if people have excavators and are using them for proper and legal business,” he said.
