We are constrained to return to the subject of the Catholic Bishop of Jasikan’s campaign against the mining of iron ore in the Oti Region because of the negative precedence it would visit on the country.
As we stated in an earlier commentary, the clergyman’s concern about the degradation of some parts of the country, occasioned by unsustainable mining activities, is a fact shared by all well-meaning Ghanaians.
That notwithstanding, it behooves the state, being the custodian of the nature-endowed resources, to ensure sustainable management of these.
That is not to state that the traditional authorities and other interests groups cannot express themselves regarding their fears. The state being constitutionally vested with all lands and the resources therein shall not be stopped from taking decisions in the best interest of the citizens.
Those whose utterances are intended to incite the people against constituted authority as the call by the Bishop suggested are seeking to create chaos in the country and should be dismissed.
A critical issue has cropped up in the light of the Bishop’s stance which has informed a return to this subject.
Resources in other parts of the world have been extracted over decades some of them predating our independence, dividends from which continue to go into the development of the rest of the country.
There are other regions which are less endowed in terms of natural resources yet they partake in the distribution of resources from the others.
The resources strewn across the country are not evenly distributed but never have we witnessed the people of one part demanding that the resources from their end should be restricted to their benefits only, when it comes to sharing of dividends or even development.
Any suggestion, therefore, that the resources of a particular region or area should not be allowed to be extracted or exploited is not only selfish but irresponsible and should therefore not be given any mileage under any circumstances.
Anybody who stands in the way of sustainable management of the country’s God-endowed resources should be considered as not having the interest of the nation at heart.
All that we ask of the government is to ensure that the resource curse associated with mining and other mineral extraction are guarded against sustainably. This is what the Bishop of Jasikan can ask of the government.
He can also engage the relevant state department or agency for further explanation about the sustainability of the project or even proffer suggestions.
Such precedence should not be entertained or encouraged in this country because of its negative implication on the country.