Samuel Abu Jinapor
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has stated that the President Nana Akufo-Addo’s Government is not against mining.
What the Government is against, he said, is illegal mining popularly known as Galamsey.
The Minister made this known in an interaction with the media at the Information Ministry in Accra on Friday, April 30, 2021.
Asked what Government was doing to provide alternative livelihood support for persons who have been affected by the crackdown on Galamsey, the Minister said the Community Mining Scheme was one initiative aimed at providing alternative livelihood for such people.
According to him, the Community Mining Scheme is intended to provide alternative source of livelihoods for those whose illegal mining activities have been destroyed.
He said Government was in support of mining done in a legitimate, sustainable manner with regard for the environment.
Meanwhile, he said his directive for all prospecting, reconnaissance licenses in Forest reserves to be brought to an end, comes to effect on Friday, April 30, 2021.
He noted that there were about 105 companies holding prospecting, reconnaissance licenses and those whose applications were pending.
He reiterated that forest reserves and river bodies have been declared “red zones”.
By Melvin Tarlue