Fighting Galamsey:

Gov’t Inspects Lands To Assemble Excavators

The Deputy Minister of Defence, Maj (RTD) Derrick Oduro has inspected parcels of lands across the country which have been designated to accommodate all earth-moving equipment in order to fix monitoring devices on them.

The Inter Ministerial Committee on Fight Against Illegal Mining a fourth night ago held a press conference to give out a road map towards the lifting of the ban on small scale mining.

The Deputy Minister visited four regions, Western, Central, Ashanti and Eastern to inspect the preparedness of the various Assemblies towards the evacuation of the excavators.

At an interaction with officers of Operation Vanguard, the Minister expressed the gratitude of the government to the officers “for sacrificing yourselves towards fighting this menace. I know it has not been easy but Ghana would never forget your commitment”

The Deputy Minister made stops in Tarkwa Nsuem, Dunkwaw-on-Offin, Diaso, Manso Adubea, Abirem among other places. Government on Thursday, August 16, announced a roadmap for the lifting of the ban on small-scale mining in the country. The ban had been in existence after the government assumed office in January 2017 in a bid to ensure the re-claiming and re-afforestation of mined-out areas and the restoration of impacted water bodies.

According to the Deputy Minister, commencing 3rd September 2018, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority tether with the Minerals Commission would inspect all excavators after which tracking devices would be placed on them for monitoring purposes.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIN) set up by President Akufo-Addo at the Press conference proposed the use of drones as well as trackers to monitor illegal mining activities in the country.

The Minister for Environment, Science and Technology Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng who is the head of the Committee, reiterated governments resolve to fight the menace.

IMCIN assessed all mining regions during a nationwide tour and formed the District Committee on Illegal Mining (DCIM).

A total of 144 drone pilots from the Nation’s Builders Corps, Prof Boateng disclosed, were being trained for the DCIMs; 10 for the IMCIM, 18 for Operation Vanguard and 15 for the Minerals Commission.

The Deputy Minister was accompanied by Charles Bissue who is the Secretary to the Committee, a representative from the Small Scale Miners Association and other officials from the Interior Minister.

Meanwhile, the government in a press statement, has announced the vetting of documents of artisanal and small scale miners.

Published below is the press statement signed by Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Deputy Minister and Minister Designate of Information.