Mireku Duker addressing the people
The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, George Mireku Duker says government has introduced a commodity monitor machine that can help extract gold without the use of mercury which is harmful.
“For us to mine responsibly without causing any harm to the water bodies by using mercury, the government has introduce the commodity monitor machine,” he stressed.
He said the machine can help extract not less than 95 percent of the gold unlike the use of mercury that can extract only 40 percent of gold and also cause harm to humans.
Mr. Duker who is also the MP for Tarkwa Nsuaem disclosed this at brief ceremonies to officially commission some mining concessions under the Community Mining Scheme in the Ahanta West and Jomoro area, all in the Western Region.
He told the people that mining irresponsibly is what the government is preventing.
“It saddens my heart that most people die in our mining communities because miners use toxic chemicals like mercury to mine which is then transferred to our water bodies for m to fetch for domestic purposes,”ihe lamented.
He pointed out that it is the duty of the ministry to ensure that the Community Mining initiative will benefit almost all the community members, saying “the project it is not a private property but for the community as a whole. We will plead that the community members will mine and mine responsibly and in peace and in unity.”
The Member of Parliament for Ahanta West, Ebenezer Kojo Kum noted that the smiles on the faces of the youth during the ceremony, was an the project commissioning was to get the youth to participate in the government’s community mining initiative and not go into ireesponsible mining.
“I can assure you that over 3,000 youth are going to be employed. I thank the President for introducing such an initiative in these communities and we have to mine responsibly.”
Ernest Koffie, Jomoro Municipal Chief Executive said the
community mining is a lucrative venture and if well managed, can rapidly boost the local economy and provide decent job for the youth.
Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko- Mensah
urged those who would be engaging in the community mining project to ensure that they developed their communities with the profits they will get from the initiative rather than spending the money unnecessarily.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi