President Akufo-Addo has set up a five-member ad hoc ministerial committee to engage stakeholders to assess the government’s efforts to deal with illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey.
The five-member committee is chaired by the National Security Minister, Hon. Albert Kan-Dapaah.
Other members of the committee are, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, Minister for Defense, Hon. Dominic Nitiwul, Minister for Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions, Hon. Ignatius Baffour Awuah and Minister for information, Fatimatu Abubakar
This contained in a statement on September 13 signed by Information Minister Fatimatu Abubakar.
This comes on the back of several organizations and individuals calling for a halt to the galamsey menace.
Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana, on behalf of Organised Labour also made a call for immediate government action to combat the ongoing menace.
The leadership of Organised Labour convened to discuss the dire consequences of illegal mining and its impact on the country’s environment, public health, and economic sustainability.
They expressed deep concern over the growing public discourse on the issue, noting the destruction of forest cover, water bodies, and agricultural lands.
It will be recalled that President Akufo-Addo in July 2017 put his presidency on the line with a commitment to end the illegal small-scale mining popularly called galamsey in Ghana.
Rallying Ghana’s traditional leaders together the president, said if there is one right thing to be done, that thing is for all to fight galamsey, reclaim the lands and leave for posterity a “green country” and a “clean space.”
He was addressing a forum against illegal mining organized to get Ghana’s chiefs involved in the fight against illegal mining.