The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor says the government is committed to implementing appropriate regulatory, legal, fiscal, and environmental policiesto build a responsible, viable, sustainable and environmentally-sound mining industry anchored on integrity, transparency and good governance.
The move, he said, would bring optimum benefit to the people of Ghana who were the true owners of all minerals.
Speaking at the 3rd International Conference on Irrigation and Agriculture Development (IRAD, 2022), held at the University of Development Studies in Tamale yesterday, Mr Jinapor commended the University highly for the attempt to find solutions to make effective the management of our water resources and environmental sustainability, even in the face of increasing natural resources exploitation.
In a keynote address, he indicated that the conference came at a time when the government had intensified its fight against illegal mining and at a point when the country was mobilising the entire country to support an aggressive afforestation programme to contribute to global climate action.
The Minister said the impact of mining on water resources and environment was not only an issue of illegalities but a natural occurrence from exploitation of minerals, and, therefore, if no action was taken on indiscriminate mining practices coupled with lack of reclamation by these miners, it would result in deforestation and land degradation across the country.
He noted that he did not suggest that the country quitsmining, but rather exploit the natural resources to provide the raw materials for the development of Ghana.
“We cannot industrialise if we do not invest in the exploitation and utilisation of our bauxite and other mineral resources,” he said.
The Minister indicated that people in local communities, particularly women, who depended heavily on the natural environment for their sustenance always bore the brunt of human activities that impacted on the environment.
He, therefore, admonished all mining companies, particularly the large scale companies to realise their duty towards the local community and ensure that their operations bring optimal benefit to the communities.
“Mining companies must also, at all times, observe their duty to mine responsibly, both environmentally and socially, to minimise the impact of their operations on the environment and maximise benefits” He added.
The Lands and Natural Resources Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament(MP) for Damango, said to be able to achieve the African Mining Vision which advocates for ” Transparent, Equitable and optimal exploitation of mineral resources to underpin broad-based sustainable growth and social economic development”, there was the urgent need for stakeholders to adopt policies and regulatory framework anchored on the vision.
The Minister disclosed that his Ministry in collaboration with the Office of the Attorney General was working to amend the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) to expressly prohibit the manufacture, sale, supply and use of the floating device, “changfans.”
Touching on the recent tragic incident at Appiatse, he said government had decided to build the Community into a Modern, Green and Sustainable community, stressing that in the medium to long term period the new Appiatse township will become the model of mining communities and rural development in Ghana.
