From Marlvin-James Dadzie – Ellembelle/ WR
About 30,000 youth are expected to be employed under the newly-established Community Mining program in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.
The program is expected to create 20,000 direct jobs and 10,000 indirect jobs.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, at the launch of the program on Friday at Nkroful, the capital town of the Ellembelle District.
The concession for the community mining covers a six-kilometer square land and mining activities are expected to be closely monitored by the Minerals Commission, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Water Resources Commission and the Ellembelle District Assembly.
Speaking at the launch of the program, Mr. Asomah-Cheremeh said the creation of Community Mining in the area was a testament of government’s commitment to improve the welfare of Ghanaians in mining communities.
He said it is also a fulfilment of the promise made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2016 to strengthen artisanal and small scale mining and ensuring that mining was done responsibly.
He charged the miners to mine responsibly by adhering to the laws binding the program so as to protect the land and water resources from pollution.
The minister called on the chiefs and people of the area to involve themselves in the program so as to create sustainable wealth in the district.
He commended the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area, Mr. Kwasi Bonzoh, who is also the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Ellembelle, for spearheading the establishment of Community Mining in the area and urged the people to reward him with the parliamentary seat in the 2020 general elections.
The DCE for Ellembelle, Mr. Kwasi Bonzoh, said it took the District Assembly, the relevant agencies and the ministry, two years to finalize all legal documentations for the establishment of community mining in the area.
He said he was glad that the program has finally be realized in the district and thanked the president for the initiative.
He said the establishment of community mining should end the era of illegal mining in the district, adding that, the youth can now mine in peace.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah, mentioned the contribution of the Western Region in the country’s gold production, stating that it contributes 60% of the country’s total gold production.
He said it therefore made sense that people of the Western Region benefitted from mining and it was for this reason government came up with the community mining concept.
He promised that government would continue to fashion out progressive plans to ameliorate the sufferings of mineral-endowed communities.
