We need moral, authoritative voices to win fight against galamsey – Lands Minister

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel A. Jinapor, has said that Ghana needs strong, moral and authoritative voices to win the fight against galamsey.

He, therefore, called for support from faith-based organisations in the country to join the fight against the menace.

Mr Jinapor said these when he met the leadership of the Ghana Christian Council to support the government halt the illegal mining menace in the country.

Describing the engagement with the Council as productive, impactful and useful, Mr Jinapor said the meeting was in line with the President’s quest to mobilise a broad-based national support for the ongoing fight against illegal mining.

He said the overarching outcome was the Council’s agreement to work together with government to address the illegal mining situation. 

“We need strong and authoritative voices to be able to transform the hearts and minds of the Ghanaian people,” he stated.

The Mr Jinapor meeting in Accra was part of series of engagements with key stakeholders, including the Council of State, in an efforts to obtain reliable and sound inputs to help government fashion out appropriate steps to, among others, fight the illegal mining canker, improve mining operations and enhance the ecological system of the country.

Mr Jinapor further lauded the Council for their patriotism, nationalism and unflinching commitment to helping the government tackle the old-age problem of illegal mining.

On behalf of the Council, the Chairman of the Christian Council of Ghana, Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, pledged their unwavering support to collaborate with government to curb the menace of illegal mining.

The council also used the occasion to present to the Minister a copy of their statement which sought to call for a temporary ban on small scale mining.

The meeting was also graced by the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Most Rev. Dr Paul Boafo, and a host of other Christian leaders.

In a related development, MrJinapor, on Monday met the Chairman and members of the Council of State to provide updates on the ongoing fight against illegal mining.

It also afforded the Minister the opportunity to inform the Council of the current developments in the sector, especially in relation to the illegal mining fight and mining operations in general.