Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama says the next government he leads in 2025 will introduce reforms in small-scale mining to revitalize the economy.
He acknowledged mining as a major source of income but expressed concern over the environmental damage caused by illegal mining activities, including the destruction of farmlands and the pollution of water bodies.
Speaking during a community engagement with chiefs and residents of New Abriem in the Atiwa West Constituency, former President Mahama highlighted the need to balance the livelihoods of miners with the protection of Ghana’s natural resources.
“The Minerals Commission has mapped about a 16.7 mile stretch of land for prospective gold mining and because we want to avoid indiscriminate mining, we will engage effective companies to come and establish their businesses here so that they can hire the youth who would earn a living for themselves,” Mr. Mahama who was clad in traditional cloth said.
In this election cycle, the issue of illegal mining has been widely discussed in the public domain as many Ghanaians have expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s well-publicized fight against galamsey.
The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in August announced challenges with its supply to Cape Coast and other parts of the Central Region owing to illegal mining activities ravaging the River Pra.
The release unleashed a slew of condemnation on political and traditional leaders for allowing the menace to fester.
Both leading presidential candidates have promised to deal decisively with galamsey when voted into office next month.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Mitchell Asare Amoamah
