The Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has presented his strategy for addressing illegal mining, placing a strong emphasis on preventive methodology.
Dr Bawumia articulated that his approach entails the regulation of the small-scale mining sector by empowering the Geological Survey Authority to conduct mineral prospecting and establishing a resource pool of equipment to facilitate sustainable mining practices.
In his address in Kpone Katamanso during a campaign tour on Tuesday, he responded to inquiries regarding his strategy for confronting the illegal mining challenge, commonly referred to as galamsey.
Proactive measures
He underscored the necessity of proactive measures to ensure that mining activities are carried out in a responsible and sustainable manner.
“It is essential to examine the entire framework of small-scale mining and implement necessary regulations.
“The Geological Survey Authority of Ghana would be tasked with mapping the locations of gold reserves. Currently, individuals engage in trial and error, causing environmental degradation without any supporting data. They dig in one area, find nothing, and then move on to another site.”
He added: “My vision is to establish community mining schemes based on reliable information from the geological survey department, ensuring that those involved in mining are properly regulated.
“We will introduce gold extraction machines that do not utilize mercury and ensure that operations do not occur in water bodies. By directing and licensing miners to specific areas, we can promote responsible and environmentally sustainable mining practices.”
Explaining, he stated, “This is the key to halting illegal activities. Without regulation, miners will resort to clandestine operations under the cover of darkness, particularly when they believe they are not being observed, leading them to encroach upon water bodies. Therefore, it is imperative that we enforce existing laws and implement effective regulations.”
