Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah
The RULING New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government is expected to announce a new mining policy framework for the country’s mining sector, come Friday December 15, 2018.
The policy framework, according to the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, is for regularizing and reforming mining activities in the country.
He made this known on Sunday, December 9, during the Information Ministry’s biweekly press briefings on the sidelines of the commencement of the 5th National Policy Summit (NPS) in Takoradi.
The minister explained that “while some have speculated a lifting of the ban, government has been quick to correct that what will be announced is a new policy framework within which the over 3,000 newly trained former galamsey operators as well as thousands more who are interested in mining can operate legally.”
The announcement came after 21 months ban on small scale and artisanal mining due to illegality in the sector. The ban was imposed in March 2017.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said “The practice has led to the degradation of the environment affecting severely rivers and forest reserves. In some cases, it even led to contamination of agricultural products as a result of the absorption of dangerous chemicals used.”
An Inter-Ministerial Committee against Illegal Mining was established to supervise the ban and the transition to the new legal and well regulated mining regime.
The Minister explained that the committee has completed its work and has received cabinet approval to roll out the new framework.
The announcement, he said, will outline the following;
“How validated and legal responsible miners can mine after the 15th of December; Processes towards dredging and land reclamation in affected areas; Institutional reforms within the mining regulatory agencies; Legal reforms in the mining sector; Efforts to avert a resurgence of illegal and irresponsible mining
He added that it is our expectation that stakeholders and the general public will continue to cooperate with authorities even as this new phase is rolled out.
He said “Tomorrow (today) at the NPS, the Inter Ministerial Committee on Small Scale Mining will give an update on the work done so far.”
BY Melvin Tarlue