District committee on illegal mining members at the event in Tamale
As part of government’s efforts to fight water pollution and land degradation through the activities of illegal mining, popularly known as “galamsey”, district committees have been set up in the three regions in the north to check the menace of illegal miners.
Launching the committee in Tamale, the Minister for Local Government, Hajia Alima Mahama, said there are 14 districts in the three northern regions where “galamsey” is practised – three in the Northern Region, six in the Upper West Region and five in the Upper East Region.
According to the minister, government is doing its part in the fight against “galamsey” but the success of the war against the menace will be determined by the involvement of residents in areas where the menace is practised. She said “it’s time for the citizenry to take action against the practice of “galamsey” and stay true to their environment”.
She revealed that government is not in any way opposed to the operations of registered and licensed small-scale miners, adding “the interest of government is to protect the country’s water bodies and its environment to ensure the health and safety of its citizens”.
According to her, commitment is necessary; she required it from all the committee members in the discharge of their duties.
She therefore charged them to discharge their duties without fear, with the country’s interest being their topmost priority and concern.
She revealed that government would not hesitate to deploy personnel of the infamous operation vanguard to the 14 districts in the north where the menace is practised.
So far, 60 of such committees have been launched in the southern part of the country to complement government’s efforts in fighting “galamsey”.
The Northern Regional Minister, Salifu Sa-eed, said the committee is necessary in the fight against “galamsey”, especially in the Northern Region.
Mr. Salifu Sa-eed said that the greatest disadvantage the region has is its weather and climate conditions – a situation which can be worsened by the improper extraction of the minerals found in the region, hence the need for proper regulation and supervision of such activities in the region.
However, the Northern Regional Minister called on the chiefs and people of the north to support government in the fight against “galamsey”.
FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale