Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, announced that a high-level national security meeting will convene on Wednesday with all 16 regional ministers to discuss the illegal mining crisis and determine the most effective course of action to address it.
The government is poised to take firm action against illegal mining, considering the widespread public outcry and calls for a total ban on small-scale mining.
“As a government, we have taken note of the divergent views that have been shared on this galamsey matter. We have banned small-scale mining in this country for almost two years before, so this call is not a strange one,” Mr Jinapor, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo, said.
In an interview, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister said: “We will have a review of the process of the two-year ban, looking at the pros and cons, then a decision that will be in the supreme interest of the country will be taken.”
“It is important for all forms of partisanship to be shelved in the search for the best way out of the woods in the fight against galamsey,” Mr Jinapor added.
According to the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, the fight against galamsey will be hindered if ruling party leaders remain indifferent and the opposition party promises amnesty to those jailed for galamsey, especially in an election year.
Nine health sector unions in Ghana have joined the growing chorus of voices calling for an immediate ban on small-scale mining, also known as galamsey, due to its devastating impact on the environment and human health.
In a joint statement, the unions, including the Ghana Medical Association and the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, urged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to take decisive action to halt the menace, which has reached alarming levels.
They emphasized the need for stronger regulatory and enforcement agencies to effectively address the issue.
This call comes as other prominent Ghanaians and state agencies, such as Professor Stephen Adei and the Ghana Water Company Limited, have also spoken out against the debilitating effects of galamsey on the environment and essential services.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, recently destooled three chiefs for their involvement in galamsey, adding to the growing pressure on the government to take action.
Minister Jinapor says fighting galamsey requires a collective effort from all stakeholders, including chiefs, security agencies, and citizens, to demonstrate patriotism and protect the country.
He stressed that since illegal mining affects everyone, it’s essential for all to demonstrate their patriotism by actively supporting the fight against galamsey.
“As I have said many times, we can only defeat this canker that is destroying us through national, collective and concerted efforts; the government cannot do it alone and the fight requires everyone to be onboard,” he said.
“What I want to emphasise here is that citizens must help in the fight against this galamsey menace because it can only be effective with the support of citizens,” Mr Jinapor stressed.
