Inter-Ministerial Committee on illegal mining was a scam – NDC MP

Concerns about the destruction of the natural environment and the impact of climate change have heightened the fear of illegal gold mining (Galamsey) in Ghana as it continues to be a threat to forest reserves and water resources.

Even though the menace is not new in Ghana, the use of heavy machines such as excavators, bulldozers, and chanfans have remained the phenomenon causing destruction to the country’s ecosystem.

President Akufo Addo, knowing how illegal mining could undermine the government’s commitment to the attainment of the 17 sustainable development goals, established an Inter-Ministerial Committee to help reform artisanal and small-scale mining in the country.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on illegal mining commissioned in March 2017, was to clamp down on illegal mining using the military interventions.

Several indigenes together with Chinese nationals through the operations of the committee have been arrested having their machines and other equipment confiscated for allegedly involving in illegal mining activities.

In this vein, the Member of Parliament for Prestea-Huni Valley in the Western Region, Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, has taken a swipe at President Akufo-Addo for failing to abolish illegal mining activities.

The legislature, speaking in an interview on Onua FM Etifi Nsem show, Saturday May 4, described the Inter-Ministerial Committee on illegal mining and ‘Galamstop’ as a scam, stressing it only came to heighten ‘Galamsey’ activities across the country.

“The Inter-Ministerial Committee on illegal mining was a scam, a scam in the sense that the excavators, vehicles and gold that were impounded were either sold or shared among themselves”.

So, the ‘Galamstop’ or the committee rather came to worsen the situation as a large number of small-scale miners were thrown out of business to pave way for party members and government officials, Mr. Cudjoe decried.

The Prestea-Huni Valley lawmaker prayed that something could be done to avert the destruction caused by illegal mining activities especially in the Western Region to help safeguard fiscal activities and the environment.

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